This is how we all felt in Israel LOL not wanting to miss a minute of anything going on here!

Faithless - Insomnia


This version is still my favorite:

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Is there a problem with the Heep website?  It wont let me view any clips?

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I took some pics, especially in the Galilee of election posters - but today is the day here in Israel where Kadima candidates get to vote for who they hope will succede the lame duck Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.  It's funny the newcasts completely remind me of the news coverage in the US when we have our elections.  I can almost understand what they are saying despite my lack of Hebrew.  Right now it seems Livni is winning handily, but I hope in the end Netanayu becomes the next PM!

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From Israel - these are some of the songs I am catching online LOL

Kyle Minogue - Love me

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Are finally available on the net!

Click here:  I finally got them (well they are currently uploading on google!)  Enjoy them!

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 08:15 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 OMG!!! how many pics!!! cool! ok tomorrow I'll spend all my working day to download all the pics.. haha shhhh don't tell this to my boss

Posted by: Luc at September 17, 2008 09:58 AM (8XnfQ)

2

OH MAN!

Did I miss out!

Posted by: Shawn at September 17, 2008 08:59 PM (C5Dzc)

3 Yeah Shawn, you did.  The entire night was just a grand slam home run!  The type that is hit at the bottom of the 9th inning at the world series!   It does not get better!

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at September 17, 2008 10:34 PM (GzEKp)

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The guy who took the picture told the girls to act sexy/aggressive...LOL FUNNY SHIT!

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1 veeery beautiful pics!! nice shots!

Posted by: Luc at September 17, 2008 09:56 AM (8XnfQ)

2 Let me just say, the pics of Adi do not do her enough justice. Not at all.  

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at September 17, 2008 12:35 PM (GzEKp)

3 haha...when im having fun, i live in the moment!!! even wild horses can't drag me away normally...but i was gald I got to see lital, even though i would have changed one thing about the night (about me) not you guys...

Posted by: Chris07 at September 18, 2008 11:08 AM (I2JBw)

4 Dude we were all having fun.    That was entirely the best part.

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at September 18, 2008 11:38 AM (GzEKp)

5 What one thing would you have changed?

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at September 18, 2008 11:45 AM (GzEKp)

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About an hour ago, I dropped Chris off at David Ben Gurion.  In any moment he will be boarding his plane back to New York.  I just got back to the hotel after a minor scare ROFL....I thought I lost my wallet.  Thank G-d I did not...but man talk of anxiety attack for about 2 minutes LOL.  Well all is well....now I think I am going to try to go back to sleep...after ordering a bit of room service.  Today, I am going to just relax and post more pics and try to get over this damned head cold. 

Tomorrow - Jewish Agency, Post Office, see about trying to get some Cuban Cigars LOL....and maybe a museum, but the Jewish Agency is paramount.

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Here I am, 3 am in Tel Aviv, just getting back to my hotel room and I just cannot wait but MUST blog this now.  Tonite was the best night I have had in Israel so far and honestly, I do not know what could make a night any better than this one.

Around 5:30 we got back from our tour.  And, for dinner this evening we had plans with Adi!  We originally tried to schedule it for yesterday but it could not happen, but today it did and it simply could not have been any better!   She suggested the restaurant Yotvata and we got there first now to set the setting this is like a beach front restaurant.  Probably 100 ft from the sand along Tel Aviv's prominade.  I was facing the parking lot and I saw Adi walk up.  We were sitting outside and she joined us.  And, there was no nervousness or anything.  It was totally cool, totally laid back and relaxing!   Adi had eaten so it was mainly Chris and I eating and she had a shake.   The conversation flowed very easily, like we have been friends as long as we have been friends with Lital.  Talking about travelling, life and life events, and school.  It was absolutely great.  At this point I already considered the dinner a success (despite forgetting her gift at my hotel room).   After about 2 1/2 hours dinner was winding down and we were trying to set up a late night get together with Lital for Chris's last day.  It was at this point that we encountered an issue, because we originally planned to met Lital at Mike's place and either hang there or go someplace else.  However Adi said that she was meeting Maia there after our dinner.  After we paid, we headed off to Mike's Place.  Here is where the night just goes into orbit.  First, we did not expect to spend as much time with Adi and then we did not expect to met anyone from the clips other than the two main individuals, but now we got another glimpse into their lives by meeting Maia (she was in the 30 million clip and The Sixth Sense Clip), but before Maia showed up, we already started drinking and the bar gave us shots of vodka. LOL  So we were there drinking and just talking still and about 20 min into our converesation Maia shows up and the conversation immediately becomes more party like!  It was an absolute blast and even Chris said that he felt I was more relaxed and enjoying myself more at this point then I did in the trip up to that point.  So the drinks were flowing, the conversation was outstanding and then people at the other end of the bar started gravitating towards us...well of course we were with amazing women - and we were all having a great time!  It was just too cool. LOL So then, Melvin from Georgia (USA) takes our pictures LOL and then I end up taking a couple with Adi and Maia.  No, no video, the night was just too perfect and at this point (almost 11 pm) it wasn't over yet!

By this time it was getting close to our second night out with Lital.  We orignally wanted to met with Lital at Mike's place, but instead we set up arrangements with her at Murphys (about a 3 block walk).  At about 10:30 I start getting a bit concerned that neither Chris nor I are making a move to go see Lital LOL...our original plan with her is that she was going to get off of work at 11 pm and we would see her about midnight. But she texted me that she will be at the bar around 11 pm.   About 5 min til 11 I end up saying good night to Adi and Maia and start heading off to Murphys - at first trying to catch a cab but then giving up and walking.   I get there and at first I am upset at Chris because I totally feel he is standing up Lital and then I am upset because I cannot even see her. LOL but she is there in the bar at the counter waiting for us.

So, I got to have some time to talk to her alone while Chris was slowly saying good night with Adi and Maia.  Chris finally joined us around 11:30 or so and Lital tells us she has a gift for all of us (including Shawn - and yes Shawn I will need to send it to you once I get back to the states).  It was just another awesome experience with Lital.  We talked about where we have been, and how her Siani Trip was and she showed us some pics...and we talked about what plans I have for the remainder of my week here.  Time flew so fucking fast that her mom ended up calling her because it was after 2 am!  Hell none of us knew it was that late!  A little while later, we walked Lital to her car and took more pics and hugged and said goodbye - Chris for the last time. 

If you ever had the feeling of euphoria, you know exactly what Chris and I felt.  Seriously, the night could not have been better and as his final night in Israel, I am sure it is something he will NEVER forget - I know I wont.

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Today was Shawn's last day.  While he left for the airport Chris and I were in route to the Galilee and the Golan Heights.  Amazing places.  I sort of slept through Nazareth and Chris enjoyed the churchs (he went into all of them - I did not)  I focused the pictures on the external architecture and detail.  Very lovely areas.  Extremely well kept.  Then off to the Golan and while this isn't a typical tourist spot (lets face it it's near the border of Syria, Jordan and Israel (not the nicest of neighbors).  Being there gives you an entirely different perspective as to the negotiations on what is going on....the stakes that are at play, the history and the future.  If I had not been against land for peace before...this trip would have sealed the deal.  An idiot can see how strategic these hills are!  And it does not take a rocket scientist to realize that umm...placing some artillery would be a good idea if I wanted to bomb these 4 Kibbutzium.  (which is what happened prior to 1967)!  We took some stunning pictures - but only if the hazy went away would have made the pictures perfect.  Because we could see across the entire length of the Sea of Galilee and beyond from our vantage point in the Southern Golan Heights.  Then we headed back and now trying to decide what to do for dinner for Chris's last night.

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Fucking rocks.  I now have a better idea where Lital finds her music!

MTV is not as good here, but VH1 has very good diversity and plays quite a bit of classics!

Here is one that I keep hearing and now when I hear it, it will remind me of my vacation to Israel!

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We are checked into the Tel Aviv.  Chris and I are at the Hotel Metropolitan (a much nicer establishment) and Shawn is back at the Adiv.

Agenda:

Shawn leaves tomorrow.  Chris and I are trying to set up a private tour to the Galilee and Golan!  Everyone has told us we MUST go to the Golan (and they are giving this very reason)  - because we wont have it for much longer!  And Chris HAS to go to Galilee to see the historical Christian sites - I will definitely enjoy that too.

The next day Chris leaves.  I have already hooked up with Yair so that we can have dinner again sometime during the week and I hope to do the same with Adi and Lital. - at this point the nearest firm plans will be with Yair.

After Chris leaves - this is where it all gets blurry.  I want to take a tour to the north of Israel - I want to see the Roman and Byzantine Ruins and the Crusader Ruins up to the Lebanon border.  I want to visit some museums and do a bit more shopping.  Beyond that, no idea.  Now that I will be alone in Israel it seems weird - fun but still weird.   Another thing, I forgot to add is that I want to visit the Jewish Agency.

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Today is the half way point to my vacation.  Today we head back to Tel Aviv.  I will be at the Hotel Metropolitan until I leave.  What a trip so far.  The only thing I have lost so far is sun screen LOL, so overall its been a very good trip!  Shawn leaves tomorrow and Chris the day after.  Well time to pack up!

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Amazing, just amazing.  but before I get into it, I gotta do an AAR on the Jerusalem Tour.  Yes, I seem to be running like 2 days behind - let alone the fact that Chris and I are going to do a more indepth post about our dinner with Lital.

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Here is my flickr account.  Go here to view all the pics of our first day!  Including many many pics of Lital!

I will need to upload the rest to another account.  You will have to wait until I either open a new flickr acct or photobucket.  I HATE UPLOAD LIMITS

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 09:19 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 coooool!!! how many pics! thanks guys for sharing this experience with us hehe ok now I should find some free time to watch them all, there are a lot of beautiful pics!
Have you already tried picasa? If I remember correcly, it doesn't have an upload limit. The url is:
picasaweb.google.com

Posted by: Luc at September 14, 2008 12:41 AM (3TBET)

2 How many pics?  I think we are well over the thousand mark! LOL probably closer to two thousand pictures!

Plus I have video of Lital and us at the bar but thats about umm...10-15 min.  I did not record us at the nice restaurant since it really wasnt a touristy place.

However, I have substantial video of the drive to Jerusalem, Jerusalem the tour and the drive to Masada and En Gedi.  I have about 8 hours left free on my Camcorder at this point and I know I will easily fill it up.

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at September 14, 2008 09:42 AM (JJDx7)

3 After 7 days I have 1051 pics.  This includes the 40 I got from Shawn - his are all pics of Lital.

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at September 15, 2008 06:40 AM (GzEKp)

4 O_o 1051 pics!!!!! I want to see them all!!!! lol
also the videos of course hehe

Posted by: Luc at September 15, 2008 11:47 AM (Kejqo)

5 that's not enough pics. take more!! LOL 

Posted by: Steve at September 15, 2008 09:22 PM (g7jOB)

6 Trust me there will be more.  We just got back from Galilee, Nazareth and the Golan....

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at September 16, 2008 07:42 AM (GzEKp)

7 Up to about 1400 photos so far.  I only took 4 of Adi and none with Lital - at our second meeting.  It was just too perfect and taking photos or recordings would simply ruin the perfection of the evening.

Hopefully, when I have dinner again with Yair and Lital I will take more pictures. 

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at September 17, 2008 05:29 AM (GzEKp)

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1

i guess your breaking your records, for the number of views here, because of the new lital pics...you keep putting up...he

Posted by: chris at September 15, 2008 06:58 AM (Ruhvd)

2 LOL well its not like anyone else has seen them

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at September 15, 2008 07:14 AM (GzEKp)

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Are being uploaded on my flickr account!  Check them out.  Most are mine, some are from Shawn (especially the Lital pics)

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You know I knew the first week would be the busiest LOL  And this was no execption.  We knew we HAD to check out before 11 and pay for the room.  We all pretty much woke up around the same time, before 9, to make sure to grab breakfast.  Then we were trying to decide about where to stay in Tel Aviv on the 15th +.  That took a bit to resolve, and once we got it fixed we were good to go.

The drive to Jerusalem was actually quite beautiful and peaceful.  Israel is such a tiny country that it took maybe about an hour to cross the width of the country at that point (using Hwy 1).  Going through the elevation increase you could most certainly tell the changes in the weather and the abundance of trees and other flora.  It was like we were going camping in the mountains.  But then you start getting into the city and wow, the traffic hits you.  You know I expected this, from reading a variety of Jewish bloggers it is the one thing THEY ALL agree about!  Traffic in Jerusalem SUCKS!  and yes, yes it does.  It got so annoying at one point that Chris gave up driving and ended up taking a cab to the hotel.  Shawn took over and keep in mind while it took us an HOUR to get to Jerusalem - it took another hour to find our freaking hotel once we were in the City.  Jaffa St, the street that had the bulldozer attacks, is under heavy construction so we were left trying to find an alternate route.  We got here just in time for Shabbos to start, so no real eating or drinking.  Once we got here we signed up for our tours (Jerusalem and En Gedi/Dead Sea/Masada) and checked in.  I was stressed and whipped so I just focused on my classes and stayed in (since its Shabbos) Chris and Shawn ended up finding a bar.  In the meantime I had the pleasure of chatting with Adi on Gtalk (a first!) trying to see about setting up a night out with her.  It is far to early to tell if that will happen.   But it was very cool talking to her.  That pretty much ended our evening and rounded out day 4.

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Ok so we returned to drop off Chris..jet lag and late nights finally caught up with him..and we went to Bet Yam to pick up Noah.  Bet Yam is basically a suburb to the south of Tel Aviv, just south of the old City of Jaffa.  Shawn and I picked him up and off we went to Caesara but we never got there ROFL....we decided to hit it on the way back so we headed straight to Nazerath.  In about an hour and a half we reached Nazerath and honestly, it looks like a ghetto.  Noah said it's all Arab.  What cracked us up is right after his statement/joke was that we saw an OBVIOUSLY Arab pick up driving on its RIM!  The back tire blew out and they were just driving as if they had no care in the world. LOL  So we role through Nazerth taking pics and stopping at some of the sites and we are having excellent conversations in the mean time.   He knows I am interested in making the Aaliyah (emigrating to Israel) and in Nazerth Illat (Nazerth in the hills) is an absorption center, the same one he used when he made the aliyah.  So we stop there and he introduced me to the employees and he catchs up with them.  What I immediately noticed is that EVERYONE knows EVERYONE.   The absorption center was like a fort.  Noah explained  that only schools and absorption centers have TOP priority in security issues.  The point is to make the people inside have no other care in the world beyond learning Hebrew and the norms of socity to become the best person and to have the best chance for success in Israeli society.

Then we went to a local restaurant that was like a strip mall.  There we met Tom.  Tom runs this restaurant and while he was serving us lunch (Schwarma) we learned he was a hero in the 1967 war!  He immobolized between 20-30 tanks almost singlehandedly!  All the while he was burned in over 60% of his body and had his skull nearly crushed!  Amazing!  Of course he didn't want to discuss it...instead he was more interested about where we were from.  When Noah told him I was interested in the Aliyah he said that I would LOVE Israel and Israel would welcome me with open arms.  He did not even charge us for lunch.  He kept saying America is the father and mother of Israel!  So we stayed there for a bit and then went travelling through Nazerth again. Saw Mary's church and then headed to a boarding school (for lack of a better word)  this is a place where parents who are having difficulties can send their kids for school and a safe place to stay.  We visited with Nataniel there - Noah's son.  It was great.  No matter where we met we were greeted as friends and with some curiosity.  Shawn was swarmed with kids almost the entire time.  When we left we saw a artiliery observation post and we were going to see a minefield but didn't manage to fit that in.  Though we did get a glimpse of the West bank from the hills in the area.

By now it was starting to get late in the day.  And we still wanted to hit Caesaria. By the time we got there it was just too late since we had dinner arrnagements with Yair!  So, we headed to Bet Yam and dropped off Noah and promptly got lost trying to get to Tel Aviv.  I swear I must have annoyed Shawn with my backseat driving as we were getting low in gas! LOL But he hasn't admitted it to me. LOL  We finally got to the hotel as I had been texting Yair and we finally got to the Agadir at the Tel Aviv port for dinner.  We had hamburgers in Israel LOL.  I laugh because it was my thought to try to stay ethnic - I have been eating fish most of the time here, but Yair insisted on a familiar comfort food, so to speak. 

By the time Shawn and I got there Chris and Yair were already there relaxing and drinking Goldstars.  We were fashionably late.  But man, it was a totally great evening!  Yair is just as cool in person as he is on Gtalk and email.  I gave him the skittles that he asked for.   It was a very relaxing evening with good friends, good food and good conversation!  And, while it might surprise you guys, we rarely discussed Lital (which was good!) and instead we learned more about Yair and then we took his picture LOL.  After about 3 or 4 hours we started wrapping up.  Again, Chris and Shawn wanted to continue the evening, but I passed.  So, Yair took me to the Hotel.  When I get back to Tel Aviv on the 15th, I am defiantely going to hook up with him to have dinner again!

That about wraps up day 3!

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Today we are doing an all day tour of Jerusalem, the Old City and the New City.

It wiill be a LONG day, but a historcally fulfilling day.    Some of the cites we will see will be the Temple Mount, The Kotel (Western Wall), Knesset and the Supreme Court.  Basically all the major sites.

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