saraballon

So, while I am traveling through the Islands of Lake Titicaca, I learn from eavesdropping on the guides that there is a road blockage between Puno and Cuzco (where I am supposed to go next). You can imagine that this is a very popular route, and the bus is really the only way (besides flying) to get from one place to the other. I don´t really understand the root of the political problems here, but it has to to do with the local people needing stuff, and the president not listening to them. So, how to get the government´s attention? Block the tourists from getting from one place to another. Great, except I am one of those tourists! Option 1: Book a flight to Cuzco. Option 2: Take a different bus. Instead of a 5 hour ... read more

I haven't updated my blog in a while...mostly because I have been so busy visiting people and running around with them that it has been hard to find a quiet time to sit and reflect. Also, I have to rely on the technology of others to do this sort of thing, and if a computer or internet connection isn't available, then this is virtually impossible to do. That being said, I have taken some notes along the way to make sure that I include some "important" details about my last few weeks of travel. Not interested? Well, you can always just look at the pictures. :) I left Huntsville, Alabama for South Florida about a week ago. On my agenda (and in no particular order): see my grandmother, visit with my Aunt and Lenny, hang with ... read more

I've recieved many inquiries about why the blog appears to have stopped...and I really don't have a good reason for it. But I did come up with this: When I travel alone, the blog sort of keeps me company. I complain to it, I laugh with it, I share some of my secrets with it. But my last week in Israel was different b/c I wasn't alone. I was with great friends and family, so my blog took a backseat to living in the moment with them. Besides, I can sum it all up pretty quickly here and you'll be right back on track. When I arrived back to Israel (from Egypt, see last blog), I went straight to Tel Aviv, where I stayed with Dani and Victoria. I know Dani from Camp, when he ... read more

So, no need to worry about my not-so-nice travel companions. There has been an outpouring of (well-deserved) sympathy from abroad. But they have come around! I wouldn't say that I have made the best friends of my life, but it's actually not so bad. In fact, last night we all went out as a group, then the two Aussies (Sarah and Yvette) and I went on our own way. Truth is, I needed some moral support in the tourist bazaar -- I was in the market for one of those god awful Egyptian cotton dress things -- and I didn't want to do all of the haggling alone. Of course, it was an adventure...meeting Ahmed, the shop owner and dressing up in costumes right there in the store, and then being invited to smoke sheesha ... read more

What does she mean, "jumping off her haystack?" Good question. And before I begin telling you about the past 10 days, let me explain. On Friday afternoon, just before Shabbat began, my group and I went to Kinneret Cemetery on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. I had been there a few times before, with different trips, so I knew that it was actually a very beautiful and special place -- not creepy at all. You would definitely want to be buried there...beautiful palm trees, a constant breeze, and the sound of rustling leaves and gentle waves all around. We arrived at the cemetery exhausted. There, we met Joel...a very unassuming man in shorts and a t-shirt...a self-proclaimed geek of sorts. Turns out, this cemetery is his passion. Turns out, he knows the stories ... read more