Israel. Summer 2022. Day 3. Please Don't Feed the Cats.

Well, we landed.

We decided that I would get off the plane first to go to the machines where you get your entry visas because there was no way the kids were going to figure that out on their own. Well, it was a mess but we managed. At least half of them were told to “see border agent” which made those lines even longer. Anyway, everyone got their entry visa and we walked down to passport control. They didn’t make us wait in any passport lines but just lined the kids up and looked at their entry visa. Then we went to baggage claim. My suitcase came out in under 2 minutes. The people whose luggage was lost obviously didn’t get their bags, but surprisingly no one else had issues. Once most people had their bags we started walking out where we were met by the AMHSI madrichim with signs. Hurray! I have no more responsibility for these children! 

I waited for Jen to come out because she was making sure each kid got out and then we parted. She is taking the bus to campus and staying there two nights. I… am not. In my defense, when I was asked to do this trip I was told that there was absolutely no room on campus and I had to stay at a hotel. Poor me.

After I left Jen I went upstairs to departures to say hi to Einav. She was actually training a new person.  She and I were talking and the trainee kept coming over to ask her questions. After that I took a cab to the hotel.

My cab driver was named Ofer and he was an interesting man.  He basically gave me his whole life story during the ride.  After the army he left Israel and spent time in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Los Angeles and South America. He said he worked as a salesman at electronics stores.  Basically, he was Zohan (his words).  He then went on to explain to me how they would scam people.  They would tell Jews not to go to their stores, but would sell non-Jews $20 items for $20,000.  And all of the closeout/going out of business stores were in on it together.  “Someone would come in from Sweden, and you check their shoes and watch and you see they have money and then you sell them something for too much money, and as soon as they leave you tell the other stores, in case he wants to check the price in other stores.  Then, a week later when he comes back and says you ‘rip me off’ and shows you the receipt, you say ‘that’s not our store,’ because we always give him the wrong receipts with the wrong address so he can’t prove it and you pretend like you don’t know them.”  Of course this was all in the ‘80s.  After that Ofer had a glatt kosher catering company and a frozen food line, which he sold and made a lot of money on right before Covid.  His wife wanted to leave him so she took the house with the pool and the kids, and now he lives in a nice apartment in Herzliya with his 35 year old girlfriend.  After dropping me at my hotel he was planning on going to the beach.

Anyway, I’m staying at the Publica, an Isrotel in Herziliya. For some reason there is also a Bentley dealership in the building. The hotel smells really good (I ended up buying a small diffuser of the scent). I checked in and headed to my room on the 6th floor. There are two workspaces on my floor with tables, coffee, drinks, and beer on tap. It’s cute. The room is nice with a cute bathroom, but a half shower door. You know my thoughts on that.

I was so tired that I took a nap. I think I got up around 1:30 or 2 and decided to venture out. Around the corner was a Roladin so I went to get an iced coffee. It was only mediocre. Then I decided to walk to the Marina. The concierge said it was a short walk, maybe 10 minutes, except it was more like 20 in the hot sun. Once I saw the Ritz Carlton in the distance I realized where I was. We stayed there in 2019 for a few nights. The Marina is the same. I went to the grocery store in the little mall to get some stuff. I don’t even know what meal I’m up to, it’s very confusing. After that I took a cab back to the hotel. 

I decided to sit by the pool a little before getting ready for dinner. It was nice up there and I watched two girls doing an Instagram photo shoot.

I relaxed for a bit until I had to get ready to meet Jen for dinner.  We decided she would come meet me at the Marina. We were supposed to meet at 5:45 but she ended up going to the wrong place, so I don’t think she got to me until 7. We ate dinner at a restaurant on the water called Kakao.  I got a Caesar salad but wanted to take out the tomatoes and eggplant and add tuna. The waiter said he understood but then another guy came and was like “he didn’t understand.” Anyway, it was pretty good. The stray cats were in full force and then Jen fed one. I was like, ‘you know now they are ALL going to come.’ I don’t think she realized that cats are basically rats here. Well, they all showed up. One even hopped on a chair and sat with us. Gross.

At dinner I got the full rundown of what happened after I left the airport. Apparently they didn’t order enough busses! I’m not sure how that happens because all you have to do is literally count how many kids you have, and then order the appropriate amount of busses. Nope! So kids had to sit and wait at the airport. I can’t even imagine. Eventually they all made it and got split up into their dorms. Some were complaining they had to drag their suitcases up stairs. So would I. Anyway, I think they are all settled now. 

After dinner we walked around a little. There was a white wine festival that looked cute, but it was 180 shekel and she doesn’t drink much, so we opted to forgo that experience. We did hit the SuperPharm though! Then I Ubered back to the hotel and she went back to campus. I watched the Mets give up a bunch of runs and basically passed out.

Good day.