Getting ready for city, mountains & the sea

Destination:  Morocco 7/25-8/6

Welcome friends & family!  I thought I would share impressions and experiences about Rach's and my summer trip/s with you in one spot, specifically our blog spot! Below is a link to our Moroccan trip itinerary:

http://tinyurl.com/Susanne-Rachel-Morocco-Packet

I cannot believe I will be leaving in 4 days.  Rach and her friend Nadia arrive in Morocco from Israel the day after me, and Nadia's mom Dijana arrives same day as the girls do.  I imagine Dijana and I may experience some jetlag but hope a few good doses of Moroccan tea will help do the trick.  I have been packed for days now - there is a first time for everything - and after daily trips to CVS this week to pick up arch supports, dental floss, immodium, mascara, sunscreen, etc., I think I am about ready to go! Although Nadia and Dijana aren't using a tour organizer like we are - ours is Journey Beyond Travel - they will be paralleling our trip so that we will be spending time together.

I have been following Rachel & Nadia's itinerary in Israel - obviously with some last-minute changes (not reflected below) due to the unrest in parts of Jerusalem.  You can see their itinerary here:

Taglit-Birthright Israel RT 36-332 Amazing Israel Explore 8/22-8/26 

Educator: Ayal Beer

Madrich: Ethan Adler

Madricha: Hannah Oreskes Belit (Hannah is an American and the older sister of a friend and acquaintance of Nadia's and Rachel's from Hebrew School)

7/17 - OS857 Arrival: 14:55 Ben Gurion International Airport Welcome to Israel Drive North  Overview in the North  Check in and Dinner at the Hotel  Group Evening Program – Aims and Expectations  Overnight: Golan Hotel, Tiberius

7/18 - Breakfast National Park Hike in the North  Visit Mount Bental for an Overview of Syria  Lunch on Own  Wine Tasting and Tour the Winery  Rafting on the River Jordan  Dinner at the Guest House Group Program  Overnight: Golan Hotel, Tiberius 

7/19 - Breakfast  Hike the Mount Meron Trail  Tour the Mystical City of Tsfat Lunch on Own in Tsfat Meet with David Freedman   - A Local Artist  Overview in the North  Dinner at the Hotel  Yoga Session at the Hotel  Overnight: Golan Hotel, Tiberius

7/20 - Breakfast and Check Out  Visit the Geo-Politics Shorashim Project Drive to Jerusalem  Lunch on Own in Shuk Machne Yehuda  Overview of Jerusalem  Seam Line Tour in Jerusalem  Check in and Dinner at the Hotel  Group Evening Program - Mifgash Preparation  Israel Update at the Hotel  Overnight: Jerusalem Gate Hotel 

7/21 - Mifgash Day One Breakfast  Meet the Mifgash at the Hotel – Opening and Ice Breakers  Tour the Old City of Jerusalem  Visit the Davidson Center  Lunch on Own in the Old City  Shabbat Preparation  Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel Walk back to the Hotel  Shabbat Dinner at the Hotel  Oneg Shabbat Program Overnight: Jerusalem Gate Hotel
 

7/22 - Mifgash Day Two Breakfast Rest and Relaxation  Shabbat Morning Program and Text Study  Lunch at the Hotel  Visit the Israel Museum  Seuda Shlisheet – the third/extra meal on Shabbat  Yad Vashem Preparation  Havdallah  Dinner on Own  Free Night in Jerusalem  Overnight: Jerusalem Gate Hotel

7/23 - Mifgash Day Three Breakfast  Visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum  Lunch on Own  Visit Har Herzl Military Cemetery  Group Processing Session and Gift Of Life Dinner at the Hotel  Night Walk to the Shuk  Overnight: Jerusalem Gate Hotel

7/24 - Mifgash Day Four Breakfast and Check Out  Hike the Sataf Drive South  Cave Crawling in the Desert Lunch On Own  Bedouin Women Empowerment - Lakiya  Camel Ride in the Desert Dinner at the Bedouin Tents  Night Walk Bonfire and Mifgash Summary  Overnight: Kfar Hanokdim, Bedouin Tent Under the Stars

7/25 - Mifgash Day Five Bedioun Breakfast  Climb Masada via the Roman Ramp  Tour Masada National Park  Descend via the Snake Path  Lunch on Own at Ein Gedi Spa Hike Nachal David Waterfall Trail  Drive to Tel Aviv and Mifgash Depart  Check in and Dinner at the Hotel  Free Evening in Tel Aviv  Overnight: Metropolitan Hotel, Tel Aviv 

7/26 - Breakfast  Birthright Innovation Center Tour the Port City of Jaffa Lunch on Own and Time to Shop in Tel Aviv Free Time to Swim on the Beach  Visit Rabin Square  Dinner at the Hotel  Final Group Summary Free Evening in Tel Aviv Overnight: Metropolitan Hotel, Tel Aviv

7/27 - Coffee and Cake  Depart to the Airport  Flight: OS860 Departure: 06:15 AM Ben Gurion International Airport for flight to Madrid then on to Marrakech to meet Susanne & Dijana.

We have been using What's App to communicate with Rachel, usually in our afternoons and her night times.  Time difference between CA and Israel is 10 hours and 8 hours for Morocco. So far so good - she is having quite the learning and sight-seeing adventure in Israel!  

- Susanne