Part 2 of first day

Flight delayed to Croatia. Again normally not problem, but now kids REALlY NEED sleep and mommy and daddy Really NEED to sleep too!!!! Okay...got to Croatia, got to apartment okay, went to bank. . . Machine ate bank card...... Went to another bank . . . Another machine ate another bank card. Oh shit..... We are testing the commercial powers of fed ex. . . We are hoping that a bank card arrives in Bosnia on Wed. It has been sent. . Until then, we are living off the good fortunes of my father and western union. One can ask us... Why not use your credit card. . . Well, whether it is left over from communism, civil war, monetary confusion (they operate on two different currencies simultaneously, the krona and the euro). . . NOBODY uses or accepts credit cards!!!!!!! I'm sure if we were staying at the yacht club it would be fine... But the restaurants, grocery store, and Our accommodations don,t take credit card..... So, we changed some very valuable cash over, not expecting to, and we are currently counting Leo as until we can pick up western union tomorrow. Our drama.... All of which would have been okay had we not two tired tykes (who ere ver very hungry) and a tired mommy and daddy......

No gain without pain

We have arrived in Dubrovnik! The good: it is beautiful. We flew in over the adriactic south along the Dalmatian coast. The mountains dive jaggedly into an aquamarine sea. It looks a bit like chap mans peak in SA, with the road carved into the mountain. Unlike SA, you drive along and these little towns fall into the sea. It is thriving with tourists, none of them Americans. Our apartment is steps away from the old city, a bit up the hill, inaccessible by car (bad for luggage carrying). We have a beautiful garden but no real view as we are not high enough up the hill. We walked into the old city, which is bustling. Hard to imagine there was a battle fought here 20years ago. We meandered down old alleys and ate from a menu with pictures of pizza. We were back in the room by 6 and the tired tykes were asleep within minutes. . . . . Now the pain

Stood in line for 2 hours at one in the morning just to check luggage (already had tickets). Ended up running to gate (through 5 Israeli checkpoints) just to have them not announce flight was delayed an hour. Normally not a problem, except traveling with two kids who NEED to sleep and a mommy who needs them to sleep.

Got to Frankfurt to find happy daddy waiting for happy children ( good part). Flight d

We are off

A successful trip.  Camp was not a huge success -- but hopefully they will be more aware of the trials and tribulations of non-native speakers.  (My silver lining).  Otherwise, we had a great time, spent great time with Miri and Family and Marla and family.  Off we go . . .

About Jerusalem

So, as you can read, we did some amazing things.  We tried to keep it to one thing in the morning and maybe one in the afternoon with pool time in between.   The City of David probably had the biggest impact.  Maybe the Israel museum.  The city of David was a biblical story of David seeing Bat Sheva and the kids had heard it at school and so when Miri told them the story (and had them kind of act it out) it had the greatest impact.  Miri's ability to bring the story alive for the kids made all the difference.  I think about the tour guide on top of Masada and what a useless event that was compared to what Miri was able to get the kids to understand and appreciate.  The other thing that was readily apparent was that when their were ruins and pictures and models the kids could grasp way more. 

When we were on the temple mount or the dome of the rock, Miri couldn't use books or pictures and the kids had a much harder time grasping and appreciating.  While Ben tried desperately to understand the East Jerusalem thing versus west - he struggled.  We walked the walk of the paratroopers conquering east jerusalem from ammunition hill into the temple mount - and while they certainly got some of it (you can still see the bullet holes) - it is difficult to understand without a good 3D map of jerusalem.  Also, the kids (even Miri's) were totally oblivious to the implications of walking through Silwan or Sheikh Jarrah Quarter. 

Indeed when we were on the Temple Mount (where the Dome of the Rock is), the sirens went off and we started hearing gunfire.  The kids did not notice - but I could see Miri start watching the police and other key people for their reaction.   I wasn't worried - but I was definitely AWARE.  Eventually, Miri called her husband (who is a colonel in the army) who knew of nothing - and he would have known of something.  But it started getting more loud and more frequent.  Eventually (5 mins) we noticed it was fire works.  And Miri asked someone why there were so many - the arab kids had just finished school for year and were lighting off fireworks.  But it was clear people were paying attention.  The Israeli's were - but the arabs didn't move or seem to notice. 

When we went back to the western wall side, it was clear that the fireworks were making people nervous.  There were also helicopters flying low (which is not allowed).  But Miri was very confident that the reason (school letting out) was accurate given the way that nobody on the temple mount had reacted.  It was an interesting experience.  I never really felt nervous.  But I was definitely aware and paying attention to everybody and everything.  The kids had no idea.  They were oblivious.  Shocking, I know.

Jerusalem

I have so much to blog about - but I am exhausted.  The trip was great - the company was great.  We spent a lot of time doing geopolitical stufff - spent more time in East Jerusalem than anywhere else.  Will write when competent.

Jerusalem

We have been in Jerusalem since Wednesday.  We have no access to computers.  We will back on-line tomorrow.  We've been very busy exploring east jerusalem - we did tunnels and arab towns and tomorrow we are doing dome of the rock.  All things I wouldn't do without Miriam.  We are doing the geopolitical tour. 

The Feigelsons

So I promise not to speak of ice cream flavors and therefore can avoid all unnecessary redundancy. 

We've spent the last two days in Safed, Zafed, Zefat, Sefat (spelled differently on every map, gps and sign) with the Feigelsons.  The kids spent the majority of the time in the pool where Ben and Jonah took on an orthodox lady (in full bathingsuit garb)(head to toe clothed) and her son.  It is a toss up who was more competitive -- Ben or her.  When she made him cry, he shamed her a bit and she backed off.  If she didn't have an extra 150 pounds on him, it might have been a more fair game.  But only in Israel.   The other kid was trying to drown Jonah in the nicest possible way. 

Micah was a trooper - it turns out he had an ear infection and was pretty miserable (that after a weekend of stomach flu).   He really thought it was unreasonable that his mommy and her friend should insist on going to the art colony in 9000 degree weather.  He was probably right.  But he was definitely doing better today rather than yesterday. 

For me, selfishly, it was wonderful to be Natalie and was only sorry I couldn't actually spend any time talking to her when Sarah wasn't listening.  Sarah was only sorry nobody wanted to play pretend.  Jonah was willing - but only if he could be the cubs in a 5th game in the world series.  In watching Ben and Jonah - I've decided all boys are airheads.  I can't believe girls have gotten the short end of that description for too long.  In fact, Ben acknowledged to me  . . and I quote . . . "Boys are idiots, mom.  Except me.  I'm a huge idiot."  Ben and Jonah got seperated from us in Safed (which is basically like a medievel maze made out of Jerusalem stone, (so everything looks the same)).  Fortunately, Natalie and I saw the humor of the situation and actually weren't worried.  We stayed put and waited for them to find us.  It only took about 5 minutes.  That was the unfortunate part. 

Ben has a playdate with a kid from camp tomorrow.  Camp has not been an overwhelming success.  It hasn't been complete failure - but it has defintely been work.  I can't help but wonder if CJDS is too socially safe for the kids.   Not that I'd wish social uncomfort on anyone -- but maybe they'd see making friends as needing work and investment - not merely physical proximity.  Without help from the counselors (who I'm guessing are not Jill-like in making kids connect or feel safe), my kids floundered a bit.  Sarah tried teaching the kids hand games - it is working somewhat.  The soccer kids are not at this camp and I think Ben is slightly out of his element.   We'll see how tomorrow's playdate goes. 

Anyways . . . I'm off to bed.