Day 1 - July 6th
First Blog Entry I am keeping this blog not only as a record of my trip but to share and hopefully at times entertains friends and family.

Right before I board the plane a Lubbavitcher rabbi asks me if I am Jewish and would I like to wrap tefillin. Hell yes! I figured it could not hurt to say a prayer before taking a 10.5 hour flight. I had a very smooth flight to Israel. On time, no bumps and I was sitting next to a nice guy who travels to Israel frequently from North Carolina. He even gives me his business card in case I have any questions. Good start.

When I landed I only had about 6 hours sleep in the past 48 hours but I still felt very alive. Jews often say that they feel at home in Israel. After exchanging some good ol' US dollars for shekels, I was unable to figure out how to buy a bottle of water from the vending machine. Welcome home!

After being picked up from the airport by my friend Eli, we went to pick-up my rental Israeli phone. Why pay $2 per minute when you can pay 15 cents? The only location to pick up the phone was the city of Lod which should have been a 20 minute ride from the airport. In case you did not know, Lod is a s***hole. Even the cabbies did not know the block that the office was on and if you call the company's customer service, they cannot give you directions. Really. Two and a half hours later I have my phone.

I also paid for a NY phone number for the convenience of co-workers, friends and family but that is still not working despite several calls to their help desk. If you travel to Israel do not use www.israelphones.com.

The first place that we visit is Caesarea National Park. Interesting place that was first built by King Herod (a Jew) to honor the Roman Caesar. Herod was an interesting guy. He was a brilliant and visionary builder but he was also probably an undiagnosed paranoid schizophrenic. Besides the large artificial harbor, it was an entertainment/sports complex. Kind of a Meadowlands Sports Complex with a successful Xanadu. There is a 4,000 seat amphitheatre still in use today and had a 10,000 seat chariot stadium as well as Roman baths and a shopping center. l
Over the years Caesarea has passed from Jewish to Roman, Byzantine, Christian Crusader and Muslim rule. The Muslims pretty much destroyed the place and was in shambles until King Louis of France rebuilt it in the 1200s.

Overall a very beautiful place. Pics to follow.

Keeping local we visited Natanya. Just a typical bustling crowded small city. We go to a mall to pick up some odds and ends. Women have their bags checked before they are allowed into the mall and everyone goes through a magnetometer. Welcome to everyday life in Israel.

Some initial observations:
1. The economy is doing well over here.
2. Gas is close to $9 per gallon
3. Parking is actually worse in Tel Aviv than in Manhattan.
4. Almost everyone here is in good physical shape.
5. Women are beautiful over here.
6. I am the fattest person in the country

Despite being in my very own weight class and surrounded by the most beautiful women outside of a Vegas strip club, it does nothing to suppress my appetite.
We have dinner in a down to earth authentic Israeli place called Etzel Haturki in Or Yehudea, east of Tel Aviv that has been in business since 1952. They bring over around a dozen sides from hummus to beets, hot sauce, eggplant, tomatoes, french fries and pita breads. I order the schwarma and my friend has lamb. Both were excellent. I also have this mango nectar (non-alcoholic and in a can) which is delicious.

Until my next post ...