My 70th birthday trip

Israel

I’ve struggled with what I should share in my first post on Substack. But I think I’m ready.

Two years ago, for my 70th birthday, I planned a very special trip to Israel. I booked a little Airbnb in Tel Aviv just a few blocks from the beach. I would use it as my hub to take day trips to Jerusalem, to the Dead Sea and Galilee. After that week, I planned to take a bus down to Bethlehem where I had booked two nights–my birthday night!–at the Walled Off Hotel, a small boutique hotel owned by Banksy, the famous graffiti artist. The room I booked (6 months ahead of time) was one in which Banksy had painted a mural on the wall above the headboard. Two soldiers, one Israeli and one Palestinian … and you can see how they fought.

Unfortunately, I got Covid just a week before taking off and had to cancel my trip. There’s nothing I regret more. I hope I will someday get to visit that area and meet its beautiful people, but who knows. It saddens me so to see it now. #Prayersforpeace