Day 1, Thursday, March 9, 2023 - Woodstock, Newark, TelAviv

 When I went on this trip with my mom in March, 2018, I enjoyed it so much and thought that Carmen would enjoy it that we signed up to go again in March, 2020. Due to the pandemic, this didn't happen and it was rescheduled twice to the fall of 2021 but due to political concerns in Israel, it was rescheduled to March, 2022. Due to changes in the itinerary which had a major impact on our flight reservations, we rescheduled to March 2023 and got a refund of our flights.

So we are finally on our way three years later.

Our flight doesn't leave until 3:55PM so we can have a relaxing morning and finishing up packing before leaving at 11AM.

Everything went well until we got on the plane. It was a smooth drive to SNAP parking, just over two hours. The shuttle to the airport, bag drop and security check took less than 30 minutes and we went to the Polaris lounge to relax and get something to eat.

The security for flights to Israel is more stringent. There was a check of all hand luggage and a body scan with a wand before entering the gate area. When we go on the plane for our 3:55 departure, there were some mechanics working and it took another 30 minutes before we departed. The plane went out a few hundred yards and stopped. After about 45 minutes, the pilot said there was a mechanical problem that needed to be evaluated. It took another 45 minutes before a gate was opened so the mechanics could come in an fix the problem, another 30 minutes. About 4 hours behind schedule we finally took off.

There were many Hassidic Jews on the plane wearing the long black coats, wearing black hats and carrying hat boxes. There was considerable nervousness about arriving in time to get home before the start of Shabbat on Friday evening when it is not allowed to take transportation. The cabin crew announced that anyone who was concerned could get off, although I don't know if anyone did.



Carmen enjoying a Bloody Mary in the lounge

Champagne before take-off


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