Why the He!! are We Going to Israel?

So obviously, the primary reason for this blog is so that our friends and family can track our upcoming trip to Europe and the Middle East.  And, as many people have asked, why Israel?  It's a fair question, considering not many people think, "Hmm, I think this year for the family getaway we should take a 15-hour plane ride to the most hotly contested piece of arid desert in human history and see how relaxing that is?"

The short of it is that Jeana's college roommate, Kirstin, lives in Israel with her husband Frank, and they had their first child in the past year. And, as anybody knows, if a very close friend of yours has a baby, you are so inclined to go visit said friend and coo over the baby.  Of course, Kirstin, being one of the more practical people I know, would not be upset in the least if her friends waited until their tour of duty (both she and Frank work for the government) was over and saw the baby when they returned stateside.

But Jeana and I talked about this about a year ago, and whereas practicality would tell us to wait precisely for Kirstin and Frank to move back to the US, we realized, "Well, when are we ever going to have another reason to go to Israel?"  I mean, it's a fair question, really.  We're both 37 years old, and I don't see any point in the future where I might say, "Let's visit the most hated country in the Middle East to see the sights!"  Other than the handful of Jewish people I know, Israel isn't typically a hot destination spot.  So we will get to see a place where few people we know will ever see themselves.  And both of us being the adventuring type, we said, "What the heck, let's plan a trip to see Kirstin and Frank!"

So here we are three days from departure.  Those of you who know my travel habits are acutely aware that I travel ultralight... we are doing this trip carry-on only.  Seriously, some day I could write a travel book on how to spend a month in Europe with only three pairs of pants.  Jeana... well, she's not such a light traveler ordinarily, but after our Italy-London trip three years ago, I have to say that she can shed the unnecessary items when she needs to.

We begin the trek Tuesday from Duluth International Airport at 2 PM.  A brief layover in Detroit in the afternoon, followed by an 8-hour flight to Paris.  Then 8 hours in Paris, followed a 2 hour flight to Budapest, a plane switch there, and then finally 3 hours to Tel Aviv.  I figure after an itinerary like that, there's no way I could stir up any trouble in Jeruslaem.  I promise updates via this blog, thanks to the wonder of smartphones and wireless Internet.  Au revoir!