Im back home in the City of Stone and Golden Light! WOW I can't believe we are all back already, this summer has flown and as we were flying over Italy and the Mediterranean coming into Tel Aviv it finally hit me that I was on my way back to Jerusalem. We left from Dulles at 7pm on Wednesday on British Airways and first landed in Heathrow. It was raining in London so we were all psyched to get onto our connecting flight and take off for Tel Aviv and Jerusalem where we knew it would be sunny skies, 90 degrees and not a drop of rain for months.
We flew down over France and Italy and crossed the Aegean and the Greek Islands as we neared the Eastern Coast of the Med and Tel Aviv came into view. As the shoreline came into focus we saw the beautiful coastline of Tel Aviv and the miles of beaches running from the marina in the north to the ancient port of Jaffa in the South. We landed in Tel Aviv and after going through passport control (be sure to know your father and grandfathers first and last names...they quiz you lol) we grabbed the Nesher Sherut (like a super shuttle) and headed for Jerusalem.
The drive to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv took about an hr and a half and as we neared the mountain passes that form the entrance to the City I recognized the villages and towns built along the slopes and then the new Calatrava Bridge marking the entrance to the city. As the spire came into view I was so excited to be back and I really felt like I was returning home. After climbing up the Western Slope and entering the City we drove down into the city center and the Old City came into view. Seeing the ancient walls and towers and my favorite fortress the Citadel of David really further solidified the reality that not only was I back in this city I love so much, but that I was back home for a month to further my studies and begin another journey in the Holy Land.
Finally after about an hr and a half we pulled up to our home in Jerusalem PBI the Pontifical Biblical Institute, the Mid East rest home of the Jesuits. After a warm welcome from Father Don our favorite Fordham Jesuit we grabbed our rooms, and Im once again back on my balcony looking out at the King David Hotel and my favorite palm tree haha. We finished our first day back home in Jerusalem settling in and relaxing at PBI celebrating our return and still trying to accept the reality that we are back in the Ancient City of Jerusalem. More to come
