I’ve had a few requests for a printable copy of my 2022 Israel Photo Journal that was posted on this blog. A PDF version with all of these posts can be accessed via the link below. The full journal is 243 pages (146 MB).
Israel 2022: Journal – 243 Pages (PDF copy suitable for printing)
Today, our whole family begins our long-awaited trip to Israel. I love visiting this country and am looking forward to sharing this journey with Olivia, Kate, and Sara. This time, I’m one of the co-leaders of the group, along with Bruce Zupa, who has been to Israel six previous times. With us are 24 other pilgrims, many of whom are making their first trip to the Holy Lands.
I’ve had a few requests for a printable copy of my Israel Journal that was posted on this blog. A PDF version with all of these posts can be accessed via the link below. The full journal is 207 pages.
Israel 2020: Journal – 207 Pages (PDF copy suitable for printing)
For anyone interested, you can access my photos and videos from our recent trip to Israel via the links below. All photos and videos are separated by day and can be downloaded from the linked site. I’m still processing videos taken, so more of these will be added shortly.
Israel 2020: Favorites – 671 Photos (Subset of Albums Below)
Click “Read More” below to see the photos from individual days if they are not visible.
January 8, 2020
Our final, chilly morning in Israel started early with clouds and a little rain. My alarm went off at 5:30 so that we could board the bus and leave the hotel by 7am. I was able to get my final items packed up and grab some scrambled eggs and coffee in the restaurant before loading onto the bus. Jerry Sells offered a prayer as we were leaving.
I’m posting this a day late because I was not able to keep up with my journal as well while walking around Jerusalem.
Today was an early morning with a wake-up call at 5:30am. It was another beautiful but chilly morning in Jerusalem, and I decided to bypass the hotel breakfast because it didn’t open until 6:30am and the bus was leaving at 7:15am. Instead, I walked down and got a latte from the restaurant and then came to the room to work on my journal and eat a protein bar before having to leave.
I’m posting this a day late because I was not able to keep up with my journal as well while walking around Jerusalem.
I woke up at 6:30am to a sunny but chilly morning in Jerusalem. After a breakfast of scrambled eggs and cheeses (three types today), we boarded the bus at 8am for a short drive to the Mt of Olives. Keith Parker led us in a prayer as we left.
We had a chilly but beautiful morning at Ein Bokek on the Dead Sea. I woke up at 6:30am and quickly got on my bathing suit and water shoes to go take a dip in the Salt Sea. This area is breathtakingly beautiful in the sunlight with the water bracketed by the desert mountains.
After three mornings of sunshine in Tiberias, today I woke up at 6am to a cold and rainy morning on the Sea of Galilee. There were no fried eggs for breakfast this morning as everything was prepared yesterday because we are in the middle of Shabbat.
I woke up at 6:15am to another beautiful morning in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. This will be the last day and night here before we move to a hotel near the Dead Sea tomorrow.
There was loud music coming from the street, along with lots of activity, as they were preparing for the marathon around the Sea of Galilee. Today also marks the Shabbat (Sabbath) at sundown.
In spite of all the forecasts of rain, It was another beautiful morning on the Sea of Galilee. I woke up at 6am, had breakfast in the hotel, and got in a little study prep for our itinerary today before boarding the bus at 7:45.
“Shanah tovah” (שנה טובה) – “Happy New Year” in Hebrew
Happy New Year from Israel and the city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee! I ended up staying up to see the new year last night standing by the shore on the Sea of Galilee. It was quiet and peaceful with the sound of parties way off in the distance. Not a bad way to start off 2020.
With our 6am alarm, we woke up to beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea from our balcony on Hadera Beach. Breakfast was at the hotel buffet, and I was able to see my friend Greg Tidwell from Ohio and we agreed to meet up later in the trip for dinner to catch up.
We crossed into our second day shortly after taking off from Newark last night. The flight to Tel Aviv was long (10.5 hours) but uneventful, and I was actually able to get in some decent sleep.
Today begins an 11-day trip to Israel that I’ve dreamed of for many years. I’ve signed up for two other trips to Israel in the past that were ultimately cancelled, but it seems like this one is actually going to come to fruition. I’m traveling with my Dad and a group of 90+ people who will arrive from three different airline routes and are scheduled to convene on December 30th at our first hotel in Hadera.
Video highlights of the Glacier Trek hiking tour that I completed with my daughter Kate while traveling in Juneau, Alaska on July 19, 2017. We took a helicopter from the Juneau Airport to the Mendenhall Glacier. Once on the glacier, we hiked for two hours with experienced guides. This tour was led by NorthStar Trekking, and was booked through Princess Cruise Lines. It was fantastic!
The video was recorded with a GoPro Hero 5 Black. Still photos are from my Nikon D5300 (18 to 140mm lens), my daughter’s Nikon D3300 (18 to 55mm lens), and the GoPro. The video was edited using iMovie.
Even though we are already home, I’m behind in posting these journals from our trip…TA
This morning I watched us sail into Vancouver from our balcony. It was a cloudy morning with temps around 70º. We had an early breakfast in the Bordeaux Dining Room since we had to be out of our room by 8am. We got to see Snezana one last time, and she even gave us her email address so we could send her all the pictures we had taken with her and our family.
Even though we are already home, I’m behind in posting these journals from our trip…TA
Last night and through mid-day today the seas were very rough as we moved into open waters. Kate and Sara both took Dramamine before we left the cabin to meet Papa for breakfast in the Bordeaux Dining Room.
After a delicious breakfast, we dropped off Sara at the kids club and headed to the Universe Lounge for a culinary presentation and galley tour.. During the cooking presentation we were introduced to the Executive Chef and Maitre’d. The Executive Chef has been with Princess for 35 years.
As usual, we had a lovely breakfast in the Bordeaux Dining Room before saying goodbye to Papa and getting off the boat in Ketchikan. It was a little rainy, which was the first rain we’ve really had to deal with on our trip, but it wasn’t bad at all only lasted through the first half of the day.
This morning at breakfast in the Bordeaux Dining Room we saw Snezana from Serbia, who had been our assistant waitress the last three nights for dinner. She came over from across the dining room to see Sara and bring her a chocolate milk, since she orders one every night.
After breakfast Kate and I split from Papa, Olivia, and Sara, because we had booked separate excursions. Kate and I were scheduled to ride a helicopter and land on Mendenhall Glacier for a two-hour Glacier hike.
