We got back last night from an INCREDIBLE week in Israel (with a side trip to Petra). I hate even the idea of a big tour group and we normally travel with just a guide book, but I got great advice on FT to have a guide at least part of the time. We hired a woman, Carol Ann Bernheim (originally from New Jersey), for part of the time who not only taught us way more than we would have learned on our own, but took us to places we never would have gone - like an opening in the wall between Jerusalem and the West Bank, where we talked to soldiers for over an hour. It was an extraordinary experience.

We felt safe the entire time - well, maybe we were a little nervous when driving near Hebron in the Palestinian area at night on the day that 19 women and children were accidentally killed in an Israeli attack, but that was a stupid route choice on our part and we were actually in no danger at any time.

We spent most of our time in Jerusalem, but drove a rental car to Eilat (and a taxi to Petra) and a day trip to Tel Aviv.

I went there thinking it would be my only trip to Israel but found myself thinking “next time I am here...” an awful lot. I can hardly wait to go back.

Feel free to PM with any questions.