Getting ready...

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Countdown is starting - two weeks to go!!!

We finally have our flight tickets ready - we are leaving on September 7th, flying all the way (20 hours.... in 2 segments) to Lima, Peru.
Lima would be our first stop in our South America adventure.

These days we are busy with last preparations - you would not believe it, but we have already packed most of our backpacks. I guess for some of the things it was too early - Shachar (my 4 year old son) ended up going to the beach yesterday, with regular underwear (sorry - sweamsuite is already deep in my backpack 😞).

Its been fairly tough, but very productive two months, since we have packed our house in Barcelona. In short, during these 2 months, we have already:
• Been to Paris for a week
• Moved our staff to Israel and unloaded the 40 foot container
• Bought a new house in Israel (in Hod Hasharon - for those who know where it is), handled all matters for taking a huge morgage to fund it AND found tenants for it for the coming year
• Completed most of our staff purchasing for the big trip (including flight tickets 😊)

Though we have done a lot, we still have plenty awaiting us (complete paperwork with tax authorities; purchase some items for the trip; travel insurance and more), but we are really already in high gear.

I must admit, that I was not thinking about the period in Israel as part of the trip, before moving out of Barcelona. But I have realised it is.
In many ways, being vagabounds already in the last 2 months (since June 23 - but who counts...) mean we have already started our big trip or at least tested much of the life style we will be experiencing once on the road in South America. We have already been to very warm family oriented 'hotels' (my mother in-law hotel, my mother hotel, my sister and brother in-law hotel etc.); no one had his own place; the kids do not really have friends around, as these were left in Barcelona; we are leaving out of a suitcase; there is no formal school system and we even took a flight in that period.

This is our first entry, we are comitted to trying our best in keeping this blog alive and reporting frequently. It would be great, if you send us feedback so that we improve our blogs along time.

Until next entry which we will probably write only in the plane on the way to Lima....

p.s. our current return flight is scheduled for July 25 2010!!!

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Comments

[Israel]

Good luck
Lilach, I'm waiting for you in Brazil....Dont forget to visit us.. Israel

[Joshua Zamrycki]

Mazel Tov!
What an exciting and brave adventure you're about to set off on. I'm jealous :) Have a wonderful and safe journey and I look forward to following your adventures via this great blog. Don't forget the photos!!! All the best, Joshua

[Billy]

Have fun...... but don't go
I miss you already

[chen]

enjoy
i wish i can aome with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! enjoy your trip have fun

[Lior Segal]

Enjoy this amazing trip
Knowing the Sapir family, I am quite sure they will stick to their plan and update the blog, during the journey. Do not forget to attach some pictures all through the way. And once more, have a great time!

[Maribel]

ÁNIMOS, COURAGE!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello...Hola Hola Amigos, Estoy muy contenta por vosotros...y por los niños...Especailmente por los niños....Tan jovencitos y con tantas aventuras...que abrirán sus pequeñas pero grandes mentes . Os envío un poema sobre viajes y un abrazo a cada uno de vosotros. Si alimentáis este travelblog con buenas fotos y sorprendentes anécdotas...quizás....hasta yo misma os escriba un poema a los cinco. ITAKA del poeta griegodel escritor Kavafí Itaka Ahora que hacia Itaca partes, espera que tu camino sea largo, lleno de aventura, lleno de descubrimientos. Lestrigones, cíclopes, enfadado Poseidón, no les tengas temor: tales cosas no habrán en tu camino mientras mantengas tus pensamientos altos, y mientras aquella rara sensación invada tu espíritu y tu cuerpo. Lestrigones, cíclopes, incontrolable Poseidón, no los encontrarás en tu camino a no ser que tú mismo los traigas dentro de ti, y a no ser que tú mismo los pongas en frente tuyo. Espera que tu camino sea largo. Ojalá que hayan muchas mañanas de verano en las que con cuanto placer, y con cuanta alegría entres a puertos que nunca antes vistes. Ojalá que te detengas en postas fenicias a comprar mercancía fina, concha de perla y coral, ámbar y ébano, sensuales perfumes de todo tipo, tantos de aquellos como tu gustes. Y ojalá que visites muchas ciudades egipcias y que aprendas, y que continúes aprendiendo de aquellos que realmente saben. A Itaca en tu mente siempre mantén, que ahí arribar es tu destino. Pero tu viaje no apresures, es mejor si éste dura muchos años, y que seas viejo cuando a aquella isla tú llegues, enriquecido por lo que aprendiste en el camino, y sin esperar encontrar riqueza en Itaca. Itaca te dio este viaje maravilloso. Sin ella tú nunca hubieras partido, ella ya no tiene nada más que ofrecerte. Y si muy pobre la encuentras, Itaca no te habrá engañado. Porque con la sabiduría que habrás adquirido, y con toda la experiencia que habrás acumulado, comprenderás entonces cual es el verdadero significado de estas Itacas.

[Pam Skindziel-Reyes]

Que Milagro!
Hey ..what around the world trip!!? Fantastic. Estamos todavia en Florida ...buen viaje ..Pamela y familia

[ziki kuly]

have fun!
Lilach - enjoy, take many pictures and we will see you when you get back home - we are already in Israel!!! Ziki

[The Sapir Family]

Animos Courage - Maribell
Muchas Gracias. I enjoyed reading (and understanding!) your wishes, but I cannot reply at the same level in Spanish - so Big thanks for this wonderful story and special words (in english).

[lilachs sapir]

already missing you
I wish you a great time together. have fun and take care. I already miss you all.

[Maribel]

TENÉIS LOS CINCO " CARA DE AVENTUREROS"!!!!!!
And here's the version of the poem in English! Kavafis, ITHAKA Ithaca As you set out for Ithaca hope your road is a long one, full of adventure, full of discovery. Laistrygonians, Cyclops, angry Poseidon - don't be afraid of them: you' ll never find things like that on your way as long as you keep your thoughts raised high, as long as a rare excitement stirs your spirit and your body. Laistrygonians, Cyclops, wild Poseidon - you won't encounter them unless you bring them along inside your soul, unless your soul sets them up in front of you. Hope your road is a long one. May there be many summer mornings when, with what pleasure, what joy, you enter harbours you're seeing for the first time; may you stop at Phoenician trading stations to buy fine things, mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony, sensual perfume of every kind - as many sensual perfumes as you can; and may you visit many Egyptian cities to learn and go on learning from their scholars. Keep Ithaca always in your mind. Arriving there is what you're destined for. But don't hurry the journey at all. Better if it lasts for years, so you're old by the time you reach the island, wealthy with all you've gained on the way, not expecting Ithaca to make you rich. Ithaca gave you the marvelous journey. Without her you wouldn't have set out. She has nothing left to give you now. And if you find her poor, Ithaca won't have fooled you. Wise as you will have become, so full of experience, you'll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.

[Maggie McLeod]

WOw!!
Your cousin Hadas sent me the link to your blog - Ran is my husband's (Avi) second cousin. I am so impressed at what you guys are doing and wish you a wonderful trip. Will look forward to reading your blogs!!

[caterina]

hey nitzan!
how are you doing!I start school at asb on september third.Good luck with your trip! say hi to your family! xoxo caterina

[The Sapir Family]

To our loved Spanish teacher - Maribel
Thanks so much for such a special "bon voyage" greeting! Hoping that we will have a tiny bit of such ancient thrills and adventures. All the best, Sapir Family

[Yuval]

Yuval
Dear Sapir's, You are already on the long flight..., so by the time you see it you are officially on the trip, I'm sure you will enjoy it, and we will make sure to be updated All the best, Galit, Itay and Yuval Ron