Innocent Abroad

Thank you all for the informative insights concerning AF1 ^

Yes, it was a pleasure writing this TR so far; tomorrow I will post my experiences from the train ride to Jerusalem on the old ottoman track.....

adampenrith

The Aircraft known as Marine 1 or Air Force 1 only becomes those titles when the President steps on board.
Once the President deplanes it just becomes a normal US Airforce or US Marines machine

Innocent Abroad

The highway to Jerusalem was closed for hours and so were numerous roads inside the city so there was no way I was going to take a taxi back home, which was the original plan before AF1 got involved in my trip. Recently a bus service between TLV and Jerusalem started operating but this was not an option for the same reason.

Train it is, then. However the fast train from TLV to Jerusalem that was supposed to be opened in 2008 is still under construction The only other option is to take the train from TLV to Tel Aviv and then hop on the train to Jerusalem that uses the old ottoman winding route that go through the Judean hills. Truly, this is a scenic route and highly recommended to tourists but it takes forever, almost an hour and a half (in comparison the new fast train will make it in less than half an hour).

So here is a full pictorial report of my trip from T3 in TLV to the (only) train station in Jerusalem, which happens to be very close to where I live

The arrivals hall in TLV, which is always carnivalesque



The way to the platform from the arrivals hall:







Waiting for the train to Tel Aviv



And boarding



Getting off at the first station in Tel Aviv (only a six minutes ride)



But it stinks in here Oh look, there is a warning sign



Attention! Due to poor air quality near the platforms you are advised to wait in the passengers hall upstairs and come down only when the train approaches

My train



The hills :-:



A stream



And the terraces (not to be confused with the BA lounge )



An old ottoman station



The long and winding road



Home sweet home



I hope you have enjoyed this TR as much as I did. So until next time

BahrainLad

None of the photos in the initial couple of posts seem to be working?

Innocent Abroad

Oh dear I'll have to look into it but I don't think it is going to be easy thing to fix Everything was okay until couple of hours ago.

londonfog

Call me masochist but I love the railway trip between TLV and Jerusalem. My first trip was a long time ago leaving from the station near Old Jaffa and arriving at the one near Moses Montefiore Windmill. If you think that one hour and a half is slow, what about four hours (or six I do not remember)!
The last stretch winding across the mountains to Jerusalem is amazing. I hope they keep it open for the tourists!

Innocent Abroad

I also like it - but not after getting off a flight I also remember taking the old train that went all the way to city centre. Nowadays the old station became a posh dining place...

Innocent Abroad

like BA, this trip report also suffers from an IT meltdown. I hope to restore it asap but like in the ba case it would probably take me more than 24 hours. Thank you for your understanding. Please come back later

wrp96

Which one of your contractors accidentally unplugged your system?

Innocent Abroad

Severe thunderstorms over Jerusalem this evening

Innocent Abroad

All set; photos restored; enjoy.

Calchas

Fun report. I enjoyed the detail you went with to photograph the VC-25s.

Innocent Abroad

Yes, you can say it was a kind of a military operation Anyway, I'm glad you liked it.

adrouault

Nice trip report. Were the biometric machines working when you landed at natbag?

Innocent Abroad

Thanks; I think they were - and they are now all over the place - but I didn't use them.