Our first post from Israel

Amazingly, the day is finally here. After dreaming, talking, and planning this sabbatical for (could it be?) years, we are in Israel. We're not dedicated bloggers, or so impressed with ourselves to think that you'll want to know every detail of our lives over these next three months (no Twittering here), but we'll do our best to provide fun and useful updates for all of you who have expressed an interest in keeping up with our travels. If there is too much detail, let us know, or please skip over it. No pictures in this instalment - one step at a time.

But first a commercial: it is so remarkable in this day and age, and especially with this economy, that Downey Brand still values this program enough to send its partners away for three months to get recharged. Thanks from the entire Shapiro Family for making that possible.

May 1: We drove to San Francisco airport. The trip went fast, and we arrived early; returned the car to Hertz, found a cart, and piled it sky high with stuff (not much stuff according to Dana but seemed like a lot to us -- two suitcases, two duffels, a car seat, a booster, an umbrella stroller, and three backpacks). We took the train into the terminal, checked in, and then started the sabbatical symbolically: FedExing our cellphones (including email PDA) to New Jersey to be picked up in July. A quick visit to the food court to eat some dinner, passed through security, and then boarded at the gate. British Airways was great! The kids had pasta and Scott and Monica has Indian rice, lentils, a spinach. After dinner and movies for everyone (with about 30 choices) everyone slept for 4 hours - except of course Monica who couldn't sleep and who watched two more movies.

May 2: We landed at London Heathrow right on time. And imagine our surprise when Terminal Five, our arrival terminal, turned out to be the newest, cleanest, and best. We went outside by the fountain and hung out for about three hours. But first we used one of the Terminal travel agents to book a hotel for London on our return trip (Grange Swathmore Hotel - hopefully we'll have good things to report). After our time at the fountain we took the train to Terminal two, itself an adventure. Turns out you can't take the luggage carts on the train, so everything had to be shleped by hand. Terminal two was much older, but adequate. We checked in with Lufthansa and grabbed some lunch. (Just a side note how much better airport food has gotten in recent years - especially for vegetarians.) Right on time we boarded our flight to Frankfurt, a quick one-hour jaunt. Landing in Frankfurt we found that we needed to go from one end of the airport to the other, but had an hour and a half to do it, so we did. The kids were troopers but as we boarded the flight they started drooping. The flight to Israel was only about four hours, and the kids slept about two, Scott about one, and Monica (again) none.

May 3: We landed at 3:20 am, worked our way through the airport, customs, security, baggage claim, and ATM, and then got to the car rental place. An hour later we drove out of the airport with a Mazda 5 from Eldan Car Rental. It was still warm (about 70 degrees) and we drove into Tel Aviv. Other than hard to read street signs, we got to the apartment no problem. We met our leasing agent for our two week stay in Tel Aviv, who took us up to the fourth floor apartment. It is very nice: three bedroom, two bath, living and dining room, and fully equiped kitchen. It is centrally located (at Bograshav and Ben Yehuda, just behind the Dan Panerama Hotel and one block from the beach). Quick showers all around, Scott finds a parking garage, and we go out for breakfast.

We walk along the Sea for about an hour lookinbg for a nice breakfast place and end up finding the place recommended by the Morganshterns. It is a dairy menu and sits right across from the beach. We shared a Mediterranean breakfast (Shashuka, fresh juice, breads, tahini, coffee), yogurt, eggs, and toast. A bit more walking led to a visit to a market for some basic food stuff, and then a quick nap for the family followed (exhausted, but trying to get on Israel time). After the nap Monica walked the kids for Frozen yogurt while Scott met with the landlord for complete apartment instructions. Then a visit to the beach and a playground on the beach to get out some energy. Dinner was simple pasta made in our new home. At nine the kids went down and Scott and Monica followed about 11.

May 4: Esti awoke at 3:30 and wouldn't go back to sleep. Avi and Rebeka followed later. A quick trip to the SuperSol for more groceries, and then some school work. The kids are not in love with school work on vacation, but agree it is a small price for this trip. After school work our first visit to the Shuk (Carmel Street Market). Amazing! All of the great produce you could ask for, lots of ethnic fast food, and tables and tables of drek (probably all made in Hong Kong). After seeing and buying we vowed to avoid the supermarket for fruits and vegetables in the future. New Crocks for Esti replaced the ones that broke yesterday, and Avi bought Kung Fu Panda in Hebrew. Back to the apartment for a quick lunch, and more school work. Then off to the beach for a few hours of swimming (too cold for the adults). Quick showers for the kids and then dinner at a vegan restaurant two blocks from our apartment -- the food was great! Back to the apartment and bedtime for the kids (of course, except for Esti, our non-sleeping child) who continues to wander in and out).

A brief commercial about technology: incredible what you can do now. Skype to Skype calls for free from here to the US work fine. And a new feature for us - Skype to telephone numbers in the US for 2 cents a minute. And now this blog. All very easy and Star Trek-like.

Well, thats it for tomorrow. You'll find out what we did (if you care) when and if we post more online. Pictures soon, we promise.

Best regards,

Shapiros in Israel