Arrived Safe in Israel
Well here I am in Israel. Seems pretty unreal in this flashy modern airport building. It's pitch black outside. I'm waiting for a more respectable hour to catch a shuttle bus into the Old City to Ecce Homo convent.
Flight was ok. Food was passable. Both flights got delayed but since I knew I would have to wait at this end I wasn't bothered.
Met an interesting Egyptian man on the Milan flight. Ibrahim from Cairo, a gentle Muslim who thinks we just need to get rid of our leaders to be able to live in peace, since the vast majority of ordinary people just want to get on with living their lives in peace.
The wait in Milan was interesting. I was surounded by a whole lot of Orthodox Jews, some Arabs and loads of excitable Italians, some very scantily clad. Lots of kids running around. Family life is family in any culture.
Well I got through passport control but it wasn't easy. I was the only one pulled out of the line up for a second interview but I didn't get taken away to a back room so it could have been worse. I didn't even need to lie ! I guess the clergy look worked for me.
The guy who looked like a peace activist in scruffy clothes and a fluoro orange vest got picked up only a few steps from the plane. "Excuse me sir, what is the purpose of your visit ?"
