Today, we began our globe trotting journey. We started by leaving the house at 2 am. That early time was necessary, since we were going to have mass before loading up the 40 people on the bus for the drive to San Francisco. Our first left SFO at 730. Instead of falling asleep and then trying to wake up at 1 to shower and finish packing, I made the choice to stay awake. It seemed to work as with the heat, I wouldn't have slept much anyway.
Our rather eclectic group came together first in the parking lot. We had three meetings in the six weeks before the trip in which we were to get to know each other and form ourselves as a group, but upon arriving I saw many new faces.
It was really exciting to see Father Mark's usual excitement as first he rushed across the parking lot to the church telling those that were still there by the bus to load their bags and join us for as much of the mass as possible. He ended up offering the mass for us pilgrims and tying in the readings really well with our trip. I have thought both times while traveling with Father that he is entirely within his element while on a trip. He thoroughly seems to enjoy himself and passes that enjoyment onto the rest of us.
Passing through check in and security with 44 people (5 met us at the airport as a sister lives in Fremont) was quite interesting. Instead of being able to check in as a group as we did when we went to Madrid made for a long line. Then with the most complicated kiosk that I have ever seen. Pass your passport to be screen and then entering an obscure number slowed quite a few of us down. Then we had to go to a totally separate line to check the baggage. All that combined with 44 total people ....
Are journey continued on two long flights, first to Toronto (5 hours) and then a ten hour flight to Tel Aviv. Long legs in a cramped airplane make for an interesting time especially when I have a hard time sleeping. Looking around the plane, most did not have that problem. I took advantage and watched a couple of classic movies: one starring Ingrid Bergman called Stromboli and another, The Messenger, about the life of Joan of Arc. Stromboli is on the Vatican's list of best movies, and Joan of Arc? It nice to find quality movies with powerful messages to pass the long hours on board a flight.
As we race towards sunrise and the Holy Land at 611 miles per hour, my mind races between my worries about changes at work and the wondrous sites that will be seeing over the next nine days. I am anxious to arrive even the monitor shows that we still have over 2500 miles to go. According to that display we are north of Spain with water still below us. I imagine that the British isles are out there somewhere; but all I can see are the puffy white clouds below and the light of the sun just beginning to light up the horizon in its brilliant display of blue, yellow, orange and red. If only I get my camera to focus on the colors and not the glass itself, I could the majesty of God's creation that I am viewing.
Almost 6,000 miles later, we almost to Tell Aviv. It is pretty exciting to now see the names of the Israeli cities listed on the map on the screen in front of us. Now starts our trek again with baggage claim for 44 and then loading in the bus for the drive to Bethlehem, where we will stay for two days.
Woo hoo!!!!