On my way

 Well, I'm on my way. There is a major detour on I-29 N that I didn't expect, but I left early in case there were TSA delays (there were none), so all is well. There's a chance that we can see Northern Lights on the flight, so I'll pay attention.  I expect the next post will be from Helsinki. 

Finland-Arctic Magnificence

 On Sunday, I will travel to Finland with an MIT Alumni tour to see the Northern Lights and engage in some winter sports.  The tour will include some cultural enrichment.  But perhaps you ask "Why Finland?".  Well, it is a perennial Northern Lights hotspot (see image below).  The answer to "why now" is that we are in a 10-year high sunspot activity time, and it's spring equinox.

 Look carefully under the green spot and you'll find northern Finland.

Exiting (part 2)

 

So, here's a photo of me with, wait for it, a falafel sandwich which I got with Efi in his town. And, a delightful surprise: my landlord offered to take me to the airport (like I was going to say no).  Efi and Orit wanted me to see some exhibits in Tel Aviv,  but I was too tired, so the lift to the airport was great. I sat next to a mechanical engineer who is traveling to the US for a vacation,  and we geeked out for while. 

So now I am at Laguardia awaiting the flight to Kansas City. I got to have some NY pizza for breakfast (mmm).

Exiting

 

Today is the journey home. I am able to store my suitcase in an empty apartment,  but only until 1600. I'm traveling a little north to visit with my Hebrew teacher in person, and then head back to get out of the way. Heading to the airport at 1600 is fine. I'll probably be able to check-in around 1800. And then check-in for my Southwest flight in the morning (figuring that out is always a time zone challenge).

A New Friend

 I went to Jerusalem to have lunch with Sam's brother Uri. We went to his favorite hummus place (entrance was under the umbrella). Uri runs the biggest security firm in Israel,  including the security at the Kotel (Western Wall). One of his sons is currently in the IDF. 

After lunch, I went to Mahane Yehuda and bought a kilogram of great Israeli peanuts from this place.

Volunteering again

 Well, I wasn't going to be late today. I got up at 0500, had one cup of coffee,  and was out the door by 0530. First stop was buying some almond croissants for me and the other two volunteers in our little group.  Always a good idea. Then a bus to the train station.  The train to Ashkelon went through Rehovot instead of due south,  but I had time, and it was interesting. I got a cappuccino in the Ashkelon station and enjoyed my croissant.  Efi arrived around 0815 and Ron arrived at 0845. Efi drove us to the IDF refreshment station. Honestly, I didn't work too hard (cut some peppers and chopped some carrots), so outside of putting some clean dishes away and taking out some trash, I stood around a lot  and said hello to the soldiers.

Ron is third from left in the back row, then Efi, then me. This was all of today's volunteers.

We picked up nice leftover food from Kibbutz Yad Mordechi again and brought it back to the IDF station.  Then, on our way home, we brought some food from the station to a squad at the gate to Be'eri.

Everything was late today

 

I was late for my lunch with Margalit. But we had a nice long lunch and I got to hear stories of when she first moved to Israel. I had hoped to go to Mahane Yehuda, which I did, but the nut place had already closed. Then I headed back to Tel Aviv by bus, but it took forever because of rush hour traffic.  Why didn't I take the train? So I was exhausted when I got home.