aidy

looks like its going to be a great TR and im enjoying the read. Cant wait for the next legs.

Only thing is the plane which is say is Volaris is actually Thomas Cook Airlines, a British holiday airline (i used to work for them until last month)

WolfieG

Thank you aidy! Don't worry this TR is only going to get even better! Thank you I should have another post up today.

Thank you for that pointing out and I made sure to correct it! What happened why did you stop working for Thomas Cook? May have to try them one day .

WolfieG

After arriving at the Hilton Times Square, I proceeded through the main entrance off of 41st Street and I was greeted by polite and professional bellmen. They offered to take my luggage to my room, but since it was just my suitcase and my backpack, I politely declined, as I was not too encumbered. I took the elevator from the entrance area to the 25th floor, where the lobby was located. The ride upstairs was quick and I was exited the elevator, making my way over to the Front Desk. First impressions of the lobby were that it was sleek, airy, and very modern. At the Front Desk, Sabrina, who was very sweet and efficient, greeted me. Since I had chosen my room online and my room was ready, the check-in process took less than two minutes. Sabrina handed me my room keys to Room 3206, which was the exact room I chose on the Hilton app along with a bottle of water. She wished me an excellent stay and I was on my way!
I made my way to the elevator bank closest to the Front Desk and got in, ready to head seven stories up to the 32nd Floor. I arrived on the 32nd floor and after leaving the elevator bank; I turned right to go down the hall. I arrived at Room 3206 and when I entered, I was definitely very impressed with the room, as the condition of the room was excellent, it was very clean, and it had plenty of room (especially by NYC standards)!



Not only was the room itself excellent, but I definitely scored with the view I chose. From my window, I was able to look south and see various buildings including the Empire State Building, the New York Times Building, the NY-1 Building, and a glimpse of One World Trade Center all the way Downtown! Other than the amazing vista, I could not believe I scored this amazing view and did not pay additional for it.



I called my mom to let her know that I arrived safe and sound and she wanted to know how I liked the hotel so far? I told her that it was absolutely excellent, as the room was clean and in excellent condition with very minimal wear and tear with amazing views. I also added that the service was fantastic and that I loved where the hotel was located, as while Times Square is kind of touristy (but fun!), the location is very central, making it easy to get places. She asked if I called Uncle Meyer? I told her I did not yet, but that I would call him ASAP. Mom told me not to worry and to call him at that moment, so he would not worry. I agreed to call her again before I left, as after I called Uncle Meyer, I wanted to shower and get ready for dinner and she happily agreed.
I then called my Uncle Meyer and he was very happy to hear from me! I told him that I finally made it to the Hilton and that I was excited to be seeing him. He felt the same way and told me that he could not wait! I told him that I was not quite ready, as I wanted to clean up before meeting him, but I would try to do so as quickly as possible so I would not hold him up. He told me not to worry and to take my time, as he would wait all night if he had to. He added that I should meet him at Arno Ristorante, located at 38th Street and 7th Avenue. We agreed that this would work out perfectly, as it was only a 0.3 mile or about five minute walk from the hotel. I told him that I would be ready soon; that I loved him, and that I looked forward to seeing him!
If I may, I need to deviate just a little bit from the TR, as I would like to tell you about my Great Uncle Meyer. Most people think of my Uncle, Meyer Zinn, as an ageless bon vivant, retired businessman, and philanthropist. Not to mention, Uncle Meyer is the sole “blue eyed boy” of our family and has a mellow speaking voice reminiscent of Frank Sinatra. Only Uncle Meyer is left to remember the frightened twelve year old who was hidden from the Nazis by his Polish neighbors, survived in the woods, and was rescued by his eldest sister, my late Grandmother, Dona. Nobody sees the brave, yet terrified child who lost his mother, brother, and sister at the hands of the Nazis and Polish Partisans. Yet, within Uncle Meyer, the heart of a Holocaust Survivor has determined the course of his life. Without formal education, Uncle Meyer became a self-made, successful businessman. The advantage he had over many who had further academic accomplishments was his magnetic charm and likeability. Upon his retirement, Uncle Meyer declared, “the most fun about having made money is being able to give it away.” Uncle Meyer has donated two ambulances to the Israeli ambulance corps Magen David Adom. He is a founding contributor of the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., and has endowed scholarships at the Technion in Israel. To me, my Uncle, Meyer Zinn, is the tzaddik or saintly member of our family. While thriving in present-time, all of my Uncle Meyer’s successes are dedicated to lost family members. If there were a motto to summarize Meyer’s life, it would be “Never forget; Never again.”
*Please note that because we failed to take a picture of us, I decided to post a previous picture instead from his 88th birthday. From left to right: me, my mother, his friends Elvira and Robert, Aunt Julie (one of his ladyfriends) and Uncle Meyer seated, and his friends Tara and Robert

Getting back to the TR, I took a shower as I wanted to freshen up and I also brushed my teeth. Since I wanted to look nice for dinner, I dressed up in one of the two pairs of dress pants I packed for the trip as well as a red short-sleeve button down shirt. I completed the look with a pair of my Rockport shoes. I also grabbed a couple of pieces of my Food For Life Gluten and Egg Free bread, since I wanted to have a little bread before dinner and I cannot eat regular bread due to my food allergies. By 7:30PM, I was ready to go!

As I left my hotel room, I called Uncle Meyer to let him know that I would be making my way to Arno. He said I could not have timed it better, as he was about to drive crosstown from his apartment in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan. I made my way downstairs, first taking the elevator to the lobby and then again to the main entrance. Unfortunately, when I made my way down, it was pouring once again. While I had wanted to walk, this plan was dashed, as I knew that if I walked, I would be as wet as a drowned rat! Thankfully, Dino, one of the bellmen, who was very friendly and helpful, hailed me a cab right away and even escorted me to the cab under an umbrella, which was first class service right there! As he was escorting me, he wanted to know where I was going and I told him that I would be having dinner with my Uncle at Arno. Dino said that it was an excellent restaurant and wished me a great dinner! I was very thankful and a minute later, I was in a Nissan NV200 NYC Cab. The ride to Arno was easy and comfortable and even with the torrential rain, I arrived less than five minutes later.
Right after I arrived, my Uncle pulled up in his car and parked right in front of the restaurant, as they allow him to since he is a regular. We could not be happier to see each other and we gave each other a huge hug! We entered Arno and were greeted by Carlo, the Maitre’d along with Carin, the Hostess, who could not have been more warm and welcoming. As we were escorted to the table, we chatted with them and from what I was able to tell, they knew my Uncle very well and love having him there as a regular, thanks to his magnetic personality! As we headed to the table, I took in Arno’s atmosphere, which was very old school and elegant, with a large and cozy dining room with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. This also made Arno feel very old school, which I loved!
We were seated at a corner table and we were able to relax. We started chatting about our days and he wanted to know how my trip up to New York went? I told him that despite the delays flying up, everything went well, as I made it safely and comfortably. He was very happy to hear this and he wanted to know about what my trip to Israel was going to be like? I was ready to tell him but Peter, our waiter came over. Peter proved to be very friendly, funny, and knowledgeable about the menu, which was excellent! In addition, he had a little bit of a New York/Italian accent and a pleasantly sarcastic sense of humor, which added to our experience! He took our drink orders and we ordered a Pellegrino for the table and my Uncle ordered a glass of vodka. I asked my Uncle if he goes to Arno a lot and he said he has been going there for 30 years, as he enjoys the excellent food, friendly service, and elegant atmosphere. He told me he even went to the Jewish restaurant that occupied the same space before that, which was pretty neat. I asked my Uncle what he liked on the menu and he said his favorites are the seafood dishes, the veal dishes, and the Baked Clams as an appetizer. As we perused the menu, my Uncle enjoyed a slice of bread with butter while I enjoyed a slice of my bread with butter. Everything on the menu sounded excellent, but one appetizer and entrée called my name. For my appetizer, I decided on the Peperoni Arrostiti Con Filetti D’Alici (Fresh Roasted Peppers with Anchovies) and for my entrée, the Fileti di Sogliola Adriatico (Filet of Sole with capers, lemon, and white wine). I was a little concerned about ordering the Fileti di Sogliola Adriatico as I thought it would be breaded, but Peter reassured me that this was not the case and that he would inform the kitchen of my allergies, so I felt very reassured! Also, he said that dish was one of his favorites and that I made an excellent choice! My Uncle ordered the Vongole Oreganate (Baked Clams) for an appetizer and the Scaloppine Del Castelli (Veal Scaloppine with artichokes, mushrooms, and dry white wine). Our orders were taken and all we had to do was sit back and relax!
As we waiting, I told my Uncle about my trip to Israel and what would be happening. I told him everything from the time I would be arriving at Newark Airport to check in for my flight until the time I would arrive back at JFK Airport from what would be an amazing trip to Israel. My Uncle was amazed and knew that I would have a fantastic time! He was also curious about how they would be handling my food allergies? I told him that when they conducted my interview, they asked about food allergies and dietary needs and that because they have had many participants in the same boat that I was in, they had a lot of experience taking care of food allergies. I also told him that I brought a supply of some of my own food, like a couple of packages of Food for Life Gluten Free Bread (it is even certified Kosher by the Orthodox Union), cheese, chips, and a frozen pack. I also told him that studied online and consulted the people at Israel Free Spirit about Israeli cuisine and found I could eat much of it, such as the various meats and poultry, fish, veggies, fruits, and of course, hummus, so I was confident I could find something that I could eat. I added that my Mom was a little more nervous than I was and he understood, but was happy that I was very well prepared. I asked him what had been going on in his life? He told me that he was still consulting our friend/realtor Ted, who happens to be our neighbor and found our beautiful home for us. Uncle Meyer was consulting Ted, as he wants to rent a place for the upcoming winter in Highland Beach, a small but beautiful beach town nestled between Delray Beach and Boca Raton. He rented there last year through Ted, coincidently in the building where Ted and my maternal Grandparents once snowbirded and he loved it! He wanted to know if we had found any places and said that we saw one in another building and while the unit had killer views, it was dated and not to my Uncle’s taste. As we were talking, Peter delivered our appetizers and we dug in. I tucked into my Peperoni Arrostiti Con Filetti D’Alici (Fresh Roasted Peppers with Anchovies), which made for a fantastic start to our meal, as the roasted peppers were sweet and slightly smoky, the anchovies were pleasantly salty, and the capers were briny. This was a dish I have not had at any Italian restaurant before and I am glad I finally tried it here, as it was excellent!

My Uncle tucked into his Vongole Oreganate (Baked Clams), which he loved! While my Uncle tried a little bit of my appetizer and liked it, I cannot report on how the Baked Clams tasted, as I could not eat them due to having breadcrumbs on them. Still, they looked delicious and I reminisced on how my Grandparents used to order Baked Clams at Steve’s Piccola Bussola in Westbury, our favorite Italian Restaurant near where we lived. He remembered that they used to love Baked Clams and he said that Piccola also did excellent Baked Clams. While we were eating, he asked me where I like to eat out in the Delray area? I told him that I had quite a few favorites and dined in or took out from them depending upon what cuisine I was in the mood for. I told him my favorites include: Mississippi Sweets BBQ Co. in Boca Raton and Wellington for excellent food, down-home service, and inexpensive prices; Masamune in Deerfield Beach for fantastic sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese specialties along with a very clean and simple atmosphere and excellent service; Uncle Tai’s in Boca Raton for excellent Chinese food, even though it is pricier (it is a sit-down place) than your typical Chinese take-out joint (but worth it); El Camino in the Pineapple Grove neighborhood of Delray Beach for delicioso Mexican food, great service, and a lively atmosphere; Kilwin’s in Delray Beach for some of the best ice cream I have had and excellent chocolates; and of course, Caffe Luna Rosa on South Ocean Boulevard (FL-A1A) and Atlantic Avenue (FL-806), for superb Italian food, friendly and accommodating service, and killer beach views across the street. I took my Uncle and my Aunt Julie and they loved it, but my Uncle said sitting inside was a little too noisy for him, as it was hard for him to hear. He said that if he went back, he would sit outside, especially because they have a heater on the patio for the few cooler nights during Floridian winter. I also mentioned that the waiter we had when we dined there asked how he was doing, and it impressed my Uncle that he remembered he and my Aunt! He asked how my Mother was doing and I told him that she was well, which made him happy! I told my Uncle that compared to where I lived on Long Island; I thought that South Floridian dining had the edge, as there is a far greater quantity of higher quality, mid-priced restaurants as opposed to just chains and pricier restaurants like where I used to live (unless I went to areas with vibrant downtowns, like Rockville Centre or Huntington). As we were chatting, Peter arrived with our entrées and we were both in for an excellent meal! I found the presentation of Fileti di Sogliola Adriatico (Filet of Sole with capers, lemon, and white wine) to be excellent, as everything was neat and to boot, the portion was larger than I expected! Looks proved not to be deceiving, as the Filet of Sole was moist and flaky and the lemon and white wine sauce added to the dish, as they added a pleasant tanginess to contrast with the mild fish and the capers added a brininess to the dish. In addition, my entrée was served with a scoop of polenta, which was earthy, creamy, but not too rich, making a nice accompaniment to the dish.

My Uncle’s Scaloppine Del Castelli (Veal Scaloppine with artichokes, mushrooms, and dry white wine) looked excellent and while I did not try it, he absolutely loved it! As we were eating, my Uncle wanted to know what my plans were for the rest of my time in New York? I told him that I would be taking the LIRR out to Pinelawn, as I wanted to pay respects for my late Grandparents, Dona and Alex, as well as my good friend Ian (they are in the same cemetery), as I had not had the chance to do that since I moved to Florida with Mom as instead of being a 35-minute drive from the cemetery, we were now an 18-24 hour drive or 2-2.5 hour flight from the cemetery. He thought I was a bit crazy at first, as he could not understand why I would want to go to the cemetery, but I wanted to do a mitzvah and also talk to them to let them know what has happened in my life since I moved and that I would be going to Israel. He ultimately understood and was happy for me. I also told him that if I was able to, I would visit my former place of employment at the after-school program I used to work at near my home, as I loved the people I worked with and for and the skills it provided me with. After that, I would take the LIRR back to the city, have dinner, do some last minute packing, and sleep. In a little over a day, I would find myself bound for Israel with people I did not even know, ready to have an amazing time!
Since we finished our entrées, Peter asked if we wanted dessert? We were interested (my Uncle a little more so than me), so we told him that we were interested in seeing what was available. As we waiting, Peter was at another table and they were talking about how the LIRR was having troubles due to emergency track work by Amtrak in the East Side Tunnels, making commuting a hassle. He was funny and pleasantly sarcastic in addition to being an excellent waiter, which definitely added to the experience! Peter returned with the dessert cart and all of the desserts looked amazing! Sadly, I was not really able to eat any of them due to my allergies. Peter felt bad, but I asked him about fruit and/or sorbet, which I could eat? He came through and offered me a bowl of some plain, but delicious looking strawberries and blueberries. In addition, he joked with us that one day, he would invite me to have an omelet for breakfast. We both got a kick out of his humor and pleasant sarcasm, but we all agreed it was a bad idea, as when me and my Uncle told Peter I was going to Israel, he said that he would not want me to start my vacation in the emergency room and/or be liable if I had an allergic reaction. In addition to my fruit, we also ordered cappuccinos. When I received my dessert, I found it to be simple, but excellent, as the strawberries were sweet and sour and the blueberries were plump and pleasantly tart. The cappuccino was excellent too, as it was bold and frothy. My Uncle and me chatted some more during dessert and continued to have an awesome time!
At about 9:30PM, we were finished with our dinner, so we decided to head out. We thanked Peter, Carin, and Carlo for a wonderful meal and they thanked us and wished us a wonderful night. After we got outside, my Uncle asked me if I needed a ride back to my hotel before he headed back to his apartment in Murray Hill? I thanked him, but told him it was not necessary, as it was not raining anymore and it would only be a five-minute walk. We gave each other a huge hugs and we bid each other farewell, with him wishing me a good trip and me hoping to see him very soon! After this, my Uncle got into his car and drove east on 38th Street to head home. I began my walk back to the Hilton, turning right onto 7th Avenue. Overall, I would definitely return to Arno again if I were in New York City, as it was not hard to see why my Uncle considers it one of his favorite restaurants, as the food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was elegant and old school. However, the best part of my first evening in New York was being with my Uncle Meyer, as I love being with him and I am thankful to have him as my Great Uncle!
After turning right on 7th Avenue, I prepared walk three blocks to 41st Street. However, on my way back, I saw a large Duane Reade and figured I would stop in, as I needed a new Gilette razor since mine was dull. I went inside the Duane Reade, which was clean and modern looking and even had two levels. I did not know where the razors were, so a helpful associate guided me to the second floor, where they were kept. I found the razor I wanted and went back downstairs, where a friendly and efficient female cashier helped me check out. In addition, since Duane Reade is now by Walgreens, I was able to use my Balance Rewards card and she found out that I had earned $5.00 to use. I figured I would use it on this transaction and ended up paying about $9 in change for my razor, which was not bad for New York City. With that done, I walked north up 7th Avenue once again to West 41st Street, where I turned left and found myself back at the Hilton. While I was walking in the entrance to the elevator bank, I saw a bunch of bellmen. My Mom told me that if I could, I should say hello to Rodney, the head bellman there as she deemed him a “sweetheart.” Needless to say, I saw Rodney and introduced myself. He was happy to meet me and was definitely a gentleman and eager to please. I told him that my Mother stayed here a couple of times and said how sweet he was. When I mentioned her name and showed him a picture of her on my phone, it rang a bell and he indeed remembered her. He asked how she was doing and said how she was a sweet lady. He then asked how my stay was so far and what I was doing in New York? I told him that my stay was excellent thanks to the fantastic service (including from him) and the very nice room. I told him that I was stopping in New York for a couple of days as I wanted to get there two days early to ensure I made on time for my Birthright trip to Israel. He was very happy to hear that my stay was excellent and was very impressed that I would be going to Israel, as he said he wants to go there but has not had a chance yet. I told him that he has a chance to go, as I knew that he would love it like I soon would. After our wonderful conversation, we bid each other good night and he said “God Bless You,” which I was very thankful for! I headed upstairs to the 32nd floor and it was almost 10:00PM. When I arrived, I first marveled at the view once again, only this time all of the buildings were lit up, which was awesome!


Since I was kind of tired, I decided to brush my teeth and wash my face before heading into bed. Once I was done getting ready, I called Mom and let her know everything that happened. She was happy to hear from me and wanted to know how everything was and how Uncle Meyer was doing? I told her that I had a fantastic time with Uncle Meyer and that it made for an amazing start to my trip. I added that Arno was excellent and that while we sadly did not get a picture of ourselves together as we were too busy having fun, I would send her my food pictures. I sent her the pictures and she said the food looked excellent! I also told her that I had the pleasure of meeting Rodney, the bellhop and that he said hello. She was happy, as she felt that he was an outstanding employee and I agreed! Mom then wanted to know my plans for tomorrow? I told her that at around 9:00AM, I would catch a train to Pinelawn to visit the cemetery and if I were able to, visit my former place of employment before heading back to the city. She told me that this sounded excellent, but to keep track of time and not do too much, as she did not want me to risk missing the group’s departure. I reassured her not to worry and since we were both tired, we wished each other a good night. Since I wanted to make sure I had enough time to get ready and have breakfast before heading out to Long Island, I set my iPhone’s alarm to 7:00AM. I then nodded off to sleep at around 11:15PM, excited for what would await tomorrow.

aidy

i was there for 10 years and knew i needed a change, so i have moved into the Pharmaceutical industry (i work in finance projects)

Bretteee

Exciting trip. I did not know that Delta served bananas. I prefer Jet Blue. El Al now fly from Miami so I am surprised you need to schlep up to New York? Maybe to meet your group?

WolfieG

Cool! I don't blame you sometimes things in life get to the point where you have to change it up. You cannot go wrong with the Pharmaceutical industry and working in finance is an excellent way to go! Glad you are doing well how are things with you?

WolfieG

Thank you Bretteee and don't worry, this is just the beginning! In Comfort+ they serve bananas and Kind bars in addition to Biscoff cookies, pretzels, and almonds that are served in Main Cabin. That's good I happen to like jetBlue as well and as far as legroom in regular economy, I give them the definite edge over Delta. Other than that, I like both carriers . El Al is flying from Miami, but the service does not start until November so for now from South Florida, I have to fly via JFK, EWR, BOS, or a city in Europe in order to reach TLV. However, I am looking forward to when this flight does start as I want to go back to Israel, even though I did not mind connecting. I did have to schlep up to New York to meet the group, but I was not the only one as there were many people who had to fly from say California, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan, Tennessee, and Florida so we kind of all schlepped except for people who lived in the Northeast and Maryland.

WolfieG

About a little over seven hours after I went to sleep, I woke up rested and refreshed, thanks to the Hilton’s very comfortable bed. While I had planned to wake up at 7:00AM, I was already awake by 6:30AM. My plan of action for today was to head out to Pinelawn to visit the cemetery, possibly visit a couple of old lady friends who worked nearby and grab a bite or see my old friend/neighbor Barry, and visit the after school program where I once worked. I checked the LIRR schedule for trains from Penn Station to Pinelawn, where the cemetery is located. I used the MTA TrainTime app to check for trains and found out that the 8:14AM and 9:14AM trains to Ronkonkoma stopped at Pinelawn, so it was my goal to at the very latest make the 9:14AM train. I then checked for trains to Carle Place from Pinelawn, as that is the nearest station to my former place of employment. I wanted to be at my former place of employment no later than 2:30PM, as that was when my old shift used to start. I still kept in touch with my ex-co workers and students by phone, as I am very fond of them and my old Supervisor asked when I would be coming back to visit? I told her there was a shot it would be on this trip, but did not make guarantees in case plans failed. She agreed that this was smart, as she would not want the students to feel I made a promise I could not keep. Anyway, my plan was to surprise them. Based on the LIRR schedules, I would get a 12:35PM train from Pinelawn, which would result in my arrival at Hicksville at about five to one, as I would change trains there, since not many trains originating at Ronkonkoma stop at Carle Place (most trains that stop here originate from Huntington), even though Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma trains share the same line after Hicksville. The train would leave at 1:21PM and would arrive at Carle Place at about 1:30PM. I then used the LIRR’s mobile ticketing app once again to purchase tickets from Penn to Pinelawn, Pinelawn to Carle Place, and Carle Place to Penn. I then brushed my teeth, took a shower, and got dressed.
Once I was ready by about 7:15AM, I took in the view once more on this sunny New York day. From my window, I was able to see the Empire State Building, the NY-1 building, One World Trade Center, and the New York Times building.



I was unsure of where to go for breakfast, so even though it was a bit touristy, I took a look at the breakfast buffet the Hilton had to offer. While it was not the largest buffet I have seen, everything looked very good. Since I did not see a poultry-based sausage or bacon on the buffet, except for chicken sausage in a breakfast wrap, I asked Mohamed, the employee nearby if they could get me chicken or turkey sausage, since I do not eat pork. Mohamed, who was very friendly and eager to please, said it would not be a problem. I decided to enjoy breakfast at the Hilton’s breakfast buffet.

It was not too crowded and from what I could see, it appeared that there were many business travelers enjoying breakfast.

I also took in a view of Manhattan looking north from the restaurant and lobby.

I then took seat on the bench where the back of the restaurant was. Mohamed came back and took my beverage orders for orange juice and coffee. We chatted for a little bit and I told him that I was having an excellent stay! I added that my mom stayed here and asked if he knew her, since she stayed there a couple of times. He remembered her as we look alike due to the same facial features and he said he did, as he worked the small station that sold Starbucks coffee. We both were happy about that and he invited me to help myself to the buffet while my chicken sausage was being cooked. At the buffet, I got a large helping of breakfast potatoes. I saw that my orange juice and coffee were delivered and a couple of minutes later, Mohamed delivered my chicken sausages. I thought all of the foods were excellent, as the chicken sausages were moist, tender, a touch spicy, and had a pleasant snap from the casing. The breakfast potatoes were excellent too, as they were fluffy and earthy on the inside and crispy on the outside, with the peppers mixed in adding a sweet and slightly smoky flavor. I washed these foods down with bold coffee and sweet and tangy orange juice.

After enjoying my first plate of breakfast potatoes and chicken sausage, I then got another plate of breakfast potatoes. Mohamed took the plates from my first round, refilled my coffee and orange juice, and I was beginning to feel a little full. I ended my meal with a sweet and fruity banana along with a fruit salad consisting of sweet, sour, and tangy pineapple along with refreshing and juicy cantaloupe.

Since it was already 8:00AM, I knew I would not make the 8:14AM train to Ronkonkoma, so I made sure that after breakfast, I would get a move on so I could make the 9:14AM train to Ronkonkoma. When it was time to pay the check, I got an excellent surprise as Mohamed told me that breakfast was on the house, as he was honored to have me as a guest in addition to my Mom. I thanked him and told him that breakfast was absolutely fantastic! He inquired when I would be coming back for breakfast? I told him that sadly, this would be the first and last time, as I would be leaving from the Hilton for Newark Airport at about 6:45AM the next morning to make a 7:00AM bus departing from the Port Authority Bus Terminal for the airport. This would mean that breakfast at the Hilton’s breakfast buffet would not be in the cards. Mohamed understood and wished me an awesome trip to Israel! Stuffed from this excellent breakfast, I made my way downstairs to the Hilton’s exit and headed onto 41st Street. It was about twenty after eight and I began my walk to Penn Station, turning right to head down 7th Avenue.

As I was walking, I found it to be not too hot, but very pleasant. However, the day would get warmer, with temperatures reaching the 90s. About ten minutes later, I found myself at the corner of 34th Street and 7th Avenue, with ample time to make my train. Since I forgot to pack my Otterbox drybox that I use to keep my phone even more protected in physically demanding and wet environments addition to my Otterbox Defender case, I went into the nearby Modell’s in hopes of a fanny pack and/or drybox for electronics. After perusing the store, I did not find what I was looking for, so I left. I gave the search for a fanny pack/drybox one last shot before I would head into Penn Station, and not far away, I saw the Kmart adjoining Penn Station. I had not been in a Kmart in a long time, as where I live; Walmart and Target dominate the big-box store market. The store looked kind of older compared to those two stores, but after trekking through the store, I found myself in the sporting goods section, where I found a large and waterproof fanny-pack. It felt well made and was priced inexpensively at eight dollars in change. In addition, it also had a good warranty, which was a plus. I went over to the cash register, where a friendly and efficient young lady assisted me. While it normally cost eight dollars in change, she checked my Shop Your Way account and I had a coupon, which docked another two dollars off of the price. Overall, I was thankful that Kmart saved the day with this fanny pack and it ended up being a lifesaver on my trip in order to keep my phone, wallet, and camera safe in physically demanding situations, like keeping my phone dry during the water activities that we would have on the trip. With this errand done, I exited Kmart into Penn Station and awaited my train’s departure. As depicted below, the station was crowded, with commuters arriving from various points east of Manhattan.

At about five after nine, the 9:14AM train to Ronkonkoma was called as the train had arrived on Track 19. I headed downstairs and got a seat in one of the center cars on the train. This train would be stopping at Woodside, Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville, and all local stops from Bethpage. I opened the LIRR Mobile Ticket app on my phone and relaxed. Despite the fact that Amtrak was doing work on the East Side Tunnels, we were not delayed and left on time. We then left Penn Station and made our way through the East Side Tunnels, exiting west of Sunnyside Yard. As we were exiting, the conductor made an announcement that due to track work on the eastern most track at Woodside, we would be skipping that stop and Woodside passengers would have to backtrack after transferring at Jamaica. A polite and professional conductor came by to scan my ticket. I told him that I would be going to Pinelawn as I was heading to Beth Moses Cemetery, but advised to get off at Farmingdale instead, as there are cabs available there unlike at Pinelawn and it is a bit of a walk. I was thankful for the conductor’s advice and I continued to relax on the train as we passed through the rest of Queens and Nassau Counties. En route, I texted two friends of mine who work not far from the cemetery. The ride went quickly and a little under an hour later, I found myself in Farmingdale. Getting off, I found that the air temperature had risen and that there was a new luxury rental building next to the tracks, which looked nice and would be convenient for commuters, as it was right next to the train station. There were three cabs waiting and the dispatcher set me up with a cab and I was paired with another passenger who was also heading to Pinelawn. The cabbie was friendly and drove very well, giving us a pleasant ride to the cemetery. Along the way, I got a beautiful photo of a stretch of Conklin Street (NY-24) that looked almost like a Norman Rockwell painting, with a little white Levitt house and beautiful trees.

Traffic was definitely heavier than in Florida and the traffic lights were fairly long, so the ride to Pinelawn took about twenty minutes, even though it was not that far. My fellow passenger was dropped off first at a military cemetery if I am not mistaken and I was dropped off at Beth Moses Cemetery, which was my destination. The driver asked if I wanted him to go in further? I told him that dropping me off at the front gate was fine, as my destination in the cemetery was not that far away. The ride ended up being a fair $16 and I was thankful, as I got to the cemetery safely and fairly quickly. I walked up the central road of the cemetery to the row where my Grandparents and their family are located.

I found myself at their plot, where the head stone says Zinn, as that was the last name of my Great-Grandfather, Moses, as well as the maiden name of my Grandma Dona and the last name of my Uncle Meyer.

I was sad, but also happy to be back at Beth Moses, as I could commune with my Grandma Dona, my Grandpa Alex, my Great Grandpa Moses (who I never met as he died well before I was born), my Aunt Paula, and my Uncle Leon. Before I started talking to them, I took some rocks and left them on their stones in the Jewish tradition.


I then proceeded to chat with my Grandparents, my Great-Grandpa, and my Uncle. I first told them that it had been a little over six months since I had visited them, but I was happy to be back and visiting them as I miss them. I told them that we loved living in Florida and it had changed our lives for the better, as we felt happier there than we did on Long Island. I then told them that in less than 24-hours, I would be awaiting departure at Newark Airport to go to Israel. I was elated and could not believe that I would be going! I asked for all of their blessings and to watch over my mom and me. I then called my mom and told her that I was at the cemetery. She was glad that I was there and I told her that I would put her on speakerphone, so she could talk to them. She talked to them and told them to watch over us. After we talked to them, I then said the Yizkor (or Mourner’s Kadesh). I then went over to my friend Ian’s stone. My good friend Ian passed away in February 2016 at the age of 20 due to Esophageal Cancer, as he was born about three years after me and graduated from high school two years after me. He was one of three triplets and he was born to parents who could not have been more loving and devoted! Ian was one of my closest friends and I am very close to his family as well! We have known each other since we were in elementary school and we were very close in middle school, high school, and even ended up going to college together at Long Island University-Post in Brookville, NY. I love Ian along with many others, as he is kind, charismatic, intelligent, and just an all around awesome gentleman! Also, while he had Cerebral Palsy and it limited it him physically, he did not let that stop him from doing the things in life that he wanted to do, like becoming accomplished at jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts. He even earned a blue belt in jiu-jitsu from Pete Sell and Dave Patton, who are black and brown belts respectively under UFC Champion Matt Serra. Ian even had the pleasure of working with Renzo Gracie, one of the most famous mixed martial arts fighters who hails from Brazil. When Ian passed, everyone who knew him was devastated and I truly miss him. Love you Ian and may Hashem bless you!

*Please note Manheim is the family name of Ian's mother's family


I walked over to the other side of the cemetery, where Ian’s stone was. Nearby, I gathered some rocks and first placed them on the stone. I said hello to Ian and told him that I missed him and had not had a chance to visit, as I had moved six months ago. I told him that I still speak to his family often and that I know he is watching over them and I added that I would be traveling to Israel tomorrow and I asked him if he could watch over me? I reminisced for a bit and then decided to call his family, as I wanted to let them know I was visiting Ian and also see them if possible. Ian’s father picked up and he was happy to hear from me. We chatted for a bit and I asked if I could stop by their home, as I would be heading to Israel the next day. He said that he really wanted me to visit, but that they were very busy that day, so it would not be in the cards. We then reminisced over the phone a little bit and we agreed to all see each other the next time I was in New York or they were in Florida (as they have a lot of family near where me and my mom live). I stayed by Ian’s grave for a little bit, and the time was about five after eleven. Before I left the cemetery, I stopped at the main building to use the restroom and then left the cemetery. While at the main building, I also went ahead and called the two lady friends I wanted to see. They are sisters who live in Northern Nassau County and have a social media company and work in commercial real estate. They are good friends of mine and I have known them for about five years, first meeting them due to common involvement in local politics and we became fast friends since. We do not always see each other since we both have busy schedules, but when we do see each other, we always cherish it. Anyway, I tried to call and text them, but I could not reach them. I figured that since they worked ten minutes away from the cemetery that maybe there was a shot I could meet them. I waited, but since they did not respond, I began to make my way to Pinelawn just in case. I was a disappointed that I would not get to see my ladyfriends, but as The Rolling Stones always sing, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Hopefully, I will see them again one day. Since I had plenty of time until the 12:35PM train to Penn Station would depart from Pinelawn, the station technically nearest the cemetery, I decided to walk there from the cemetery, as I would still make it. I am thankful that I got to visit my Grandparents and their ancestors and Ian at Beth Moses Cemetery, as I got to reconnect with them and felt spiritually enlightened, which helped me feel better as a person and even more prepared for my trip to Israel. Baruch Hashem! I then exited the cemetery, turning right onto Wellwood Avenue (Suffolk County Road 3). I walked north up Wellwood Avenue and about twenty minutes later, I was at the Pinelawn LIRR. Walking up to the station, I noticed that it did not look like other LIRR stations, as it had a historic looking wooden station house before the platform. I noticed that there was a little bit of construction going on nearby, as the LIRR is adding a second track near that station.

I had about 50-minutes to kill until the 12:35PM train to Penn Station came from Ronkonkoma, which I would take to Hicksville to transfer to Carle Place and visit the old after school program I once worked at. I relaxed, enjoying the quaint scenery nearby like a field with some trees and an older looking church.

During the time I was relaxing on a bench outside next to the station house, my friend and old neighbor Barry called me, as before the trip, we agreed to try and see each other. Barry was happy to be talking to me again but apologized that because his flight back from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic was severely delayed, he would not be able to see me. Since we both left yesterday, our flights were both impacted by the stormy weather along the East Coast. However, while I only arrived about an hour late, Barry was far less fortunate, as he did not get home until 12-hours after the flight’s scheduled arrival time. He flew jetBlue from Puerto Plata to/from JFK, as he likes them and they are the only carrier that flies nonstop between JFK and Puerto Plata. He said that they were able to leave on time, but the storms began once they were en route. Close to the time they were supposed to arrive, the crew on his flight said they would divert to Boston, as flights were already being cancelled at JFK around 5:00PM, not far from Barry’s scheduled arrival time. They attempted to fly to Boston, but Boston was already impacted by the delays, so they ended up flying to Bangor, ME, landing there at around 8:30PM. Unfortunately, Barry was stuck there most of the night, as the crew of his jetBlue flight timed out. Sadly, they were stuck in Bangor until jetBlue flew a crew in from Boston. The plane did not leave Bangor for JFK until 3:00AM the next morning and as a result, Barry did not get back to his home until 5:30AM. He had just awakened when he called me and was still tired and had to do other things, like await the pool guys opening his pool that day. He asked if I could stop in New York on the way back to Florida, as he wanted me to come to his Independence Day party? I told him I would be honored, but it was not in the cards as flights were sold out and I needed to be back in Florida. Barry wanted to know more about my trip to Israel and because I now had the itinerary (unlike when I last spoke to him), I told him everything that I would be doing. Barry was amazed and wished me a fantastic time! I thanked him and we both expressed our sorrow at not seeing each other, but we agreed to see each other the next time I was in New York. 12:35PM was getting close, so I headed up to the platform, as the train would be coming soon. Lo-and-behold, the 12:35PM train to Penn Station arrived on time!



The train was far from crowded and I was able to relax. After Pinelawn, I watched the scenery outside, first passing an industrial area and then reaching Farmingdale, where I got a picture of the train passing over NY-110, a road connecting Huntington on the North Shore to Amityville on the South Shore.

The train then stopped at Farmingdale and Bethpage before we arrived at Hicksville twenty minutes after I boarded the train. Since I had time until the 1:21PM from Huntington to Penn Station arrived, I went downstairs to the nearby Dunkin Donuts. Since the temperature was very high, an iced coffee was in my future. There were a couple of other people inside and I did not have to wait long. A very jovial and helpful Sikh gentleman, whose name escapes me at the moment, assisted me. I looked at the options and I saw that the Frozen Iced Coffee was calling my name. I ended up getting a medium Frozen Iced Coffee. While I was waiting, I chatted with the gentleman and told him how I used to live nearby in Westbury, but since moved to South Florida. He was very happy to hear that and mentioned he had friends near where I lived. He then asked me if there are a lot of Indians in South Florida? I said yes, there are many of them and many delicious Indian restaurants too (I even found an Indian restaurant I like ten minutes from my home), but the population numbers are shy of the New York City area. He wanted to know how long I would be in the New York area and I told him that I had arrived yesterday, but would be leaving tomorrow as I would be going on a Birthright trip to Israel. The gentleman was impressed and said that he loves Israel and the Jewish people. He added that he knows many Orthodox Jews and even knew a little Hebrew. I admitted that despite being a proud Jew, I only knew some basic Hebrew and the prayers for tefellin. As he handed me my Frozen Iced Coffee, he taught me how to say thank you and you’re welcome in Hebrew, which was great! The gentleman also wanted to know if I wanted a complimentary donut with my drink? I thanked him, but told him I could not have the donut due to my allergies. He understood and offered me a banana instead, which I gladly accepted! I then burned the last $2.50 I had left on my Dunkin Donuts card on my phone. I thanked the Sikh gentleman and then left, as my train would be arriving in ten minutes. After going to the Dunkin Donuts, I headed to the entrance of the Hicksville LIRR and went upstairs to Platform B, where I would await the arrival of the 1:21PM train to Penn Station. I noticed that there was a lot of construction going on, as Hicksville is being modernized due to being one of the busiest LIRR stations east of the Jamaica LIRR and it is needed, as that station was getting old.

The train arrived exactly on time and we left Hicksville, first passing a bunch of industrial parks, then via a trestle over the Wantagh Parkway which links from Jones Beach to its northern terminus at the Northern State Parkway. We then passed more industrial parks and the train stopped at Westbury, which was once the nearest train station to my home.

I was only one stop away from Carle Place so we passed the homes in Westbury and Carle Place before we stopped at Carle Place. I disembarked the train and could not believe I would soon be at the after school program I once worked at once again, as I had not been there for six months. It was nice being back in Carle Place, as it is quaint, safe, and quiet town not far from busier areas like Mineola and Garden City and it has excellent schools. I walked out of the station, where I turned right onto Cherry Avenue, one of the main thoroughfares.

I attempted to call my former co-workers, but they were busy, as they did not pick up the phone. Since I was still early, I waited another ten minutes. I called again, but they did not pick up. Since time was going by, I decided to walk to the school. Once there, I signed in with the security guard and he gave me a visitors tag. He asked me if I knew where I was going and I said yes, since I knew. On my way to the program, one of the secretaries recognized me and said hello, which was very nice! At the room of the program, my former Supervisor and Assistant Supervisor could not have been happier to see me! I felt amazed to be back and they were glad too! My Supervisor and Assistant Supervisor could not believe that I would be traveling to Israel the next day and said that they hoped to go soon. They asked me how Florida was treating and I told them it was wonderful! I asked them how things were with them and they said things were going well too! My Supervisor asked me how the weather was in Florida and I told her it was two degrees hotter here than in Florida, which amazed all of us! They said that the students would be amazed and surprised to see me and I offered to stay my old shift, which was good, as they wanted me to be there for their pizza party. Shortly after I arrived, the students and my co-Program Aides began to come in and like with my coworkers, I felt heart warmed, as I could not have been happier to see everyone again! The students were surprised and amazed and we all had a fantastic time together. We all enjoyed pizza (I just ate the cheese and sauce off of it, like I always do) and schmoozed. It was festive and the time flew. Everyone wanted me to stay longer, but I told everyone that while I wanted to, I could not as I would be leaving for Israel in a little over twelve hours. I told them I would come back to visit whenever that may be and wished everyone well! It was 5:30PM and stayed the same amount of time I did for my old shift. While I had planned to make the short walk to the LIRR, my former coworker offered me a ride to the station and I accepted! The ride took about a minute and I was thankful! We bid each other farewell once again and I made my way upstairs to the platform, where I would catch the 5:37PM train to Penn Station. Since it was 5:32PM, I had five minutes to wait for my train. Unfortunately, the wait lengthened by five minutes as there was a delay due to track work. Nevertheless, the train arrived at 5:42PM. At this time, it was becoming real to me that very soon, I would be on my way to Israel.

I boarded the train, which was not crowded. I relaxed as the train passed through more of the suburbs. We then stopped at Mineola, Merillon Avenue, and New Hyde Park. We then continued west, crossing the Nassau/Queens border and stopped at Jamaica, before we would go nonstop to Penn Station. After Jamaica, my mom called and asked how my day was? I told her that it was amazing, as I felt lifted from being able to visit the cemetery and reconnect with my former coworkers and students at the after school program where I once worked. Mom was very happy to hear this and wanted to know what I was doing for dinner? I was not sure, but she wanted me to have something substantial. As I thought, I told her that Sarge’s Delicatessen & Diner in Murray Hill was a possibility, as it happens to be one of the restaurants my Uncle Meyer loves and I had the pleasure of going there for take-out when he was not feeling well, as he asked us to get him food from there. I liked Sarge’s because their food was delicious, the service was friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere was evocative of old New York. Mom thought it was a great idea, but thought it was just a tad far from the hotel. This would not have been a problem normally, but she did not want me to get back too late, as I needed to be awake by 5:00AM to get ready to head to the airport, as I had to be there at 8:30AM to meet the group. Like a light bulb that shines on the head of a cartoon character when they have a thought, Junior’s came to mind! The reasons it came to mind were because they have delicious food, good service, a festive atmosphere, and in relation to my hotel, a convenient location. I also had a positive past experience there, as I enjoyed the fare there when I went to the Junior’s in Brooklyn on Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues before I saw The Who on their Quadrophenia and More Tour in November 2012 at the Barclays Center. Mom thought this was a brilliant idea and I could not have agreed more! We spoke until the train was about to enter the East Side Tunnels and we agreed to speak after dinner. At about 6:20PM, we arrived at Penn Station and I exited the train, ready to make my way to dinner. Once I was up on the concourse, I saw that Penn Station was crowded due to the evening rush of commuters heading home.

I then made my way to escalators leading to the 34th Street and 7th Avenue, which was where I exited Penn Station.

I then prepared to turn left on 7th Avenue, ready to head to Junior’s.

It was a pleasant walk and I did not mind being amongst all of the hustle and bustle. Not far from 7th and 40th Street, I saw an edibles truck, which is definitely not something you see everyday.

I continued to walk up to 44th Street, just taking in all of the action in Times Square!




I turned left at 44th Street and then found myself near Junior’s.

I turned right near the Shubert Alley near the Shubert Theatre.

At 45th Street, I made another right to the main entrance of Junior’s, where I entered. I saw that they had outside seating and while I normally love to dine al-fresco, I wanted to cool off a bit so I opted to dine inside.

I was escorted to a booth by a sweet hostess and was ready to relax and tuck into a nice meal. Once seated, I had to enjoy the festive atmosphere, which was very evocative of their Brooklyn roots. One way in which this was true was with a stylized mural of Coney Island, which was really cool! While I was waiting, Aaron, my waiter came over to introduce himself and deliver a menu. He was very friendly and engaging, as he immediately took notice of the visitors tag and saw it was from a school. I did not even realize I still had my tag on, but I was happy to tell him that I once worked at an after school program and loved it, as I loved the people I worked with and for and what it taught me. Aaron said it sounded amazing and that he volunteered for the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, which he loved! He then asked where I was from and I told him Florida. He said he loves it down there and hoped to go there again. I added that I had been in New York for two days, as I would be going to Israel tomorrow and he was very happy for me, as he wanted to go to Israel. He then took my order for a beverage and I opted for Diet Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry and he offered to come back in a few minutes, so I could peruse the large menu. I also noticed it was pricey, but I expected that based on the location. After a few minutes, I decided on the Roast Turkey dinner but with fries instead of mashed potatoes, as I was more in the mood for fries. I then relaxed and enjoyed the scenery. About twenty-five minutes later, my dinner arrived. I noticed that there were mashed potatoes and Aaron realized this mistake too, which made him perplexed, as he knew I ordered fries instead. Nevertheless, I was not fussed and Aaron went to get me fries. I tucked into the rest of the dinner and I was very happy, as the turkey was moist and tender and the veggies served on the side, which was a well-cooked and slightly peppery vegetable medley of carrots, squash, zucchini, and peppers. My fries came a few minutes later and they looked good. I tried them and found them to be delicious, as they were crispy on the outside and moist and fluffy on the inside.


I continued to enjoy dinner and relax. Since I was stuffed and there was half of my dinner left, I asked Aaron if I could get a doggie bag and he obliged. This worked out, as I would eat the other half of my leftovers for breakfast, as it would make for a very substantial meal before I left for the airport. Before I left, I went to use the very clean restroom and got a kick out of this autographed picture of Adam Sandler on the door.

Since I was finished with my dinner, I went ahead and paid the bill and thanked Aaron for an excellent meal! He wished me a good night and a great trip and I was on my way! Overall, I enjoyed Junior’s as the food was delicious, the service (despite the minor screw-up which may have been the kitchen’s fault?) was excellent, and the atmosphere was fun! With these factors I would definitely return to Junior’s if I were in the area again. Since it was getting late, I decided to head back to the Hilton, but not without enjoying a little walk through Times Square. In addition to the many tourists, I saw the many knock-off costume characters. However, this caricature of a guy with a baby mask donning an adult diaper with a safety pin and holding a sign stating “Donald Trump is my daddy” was definitely out there and something you do not see everyday.

I continued to enjoy the scenery and decided I wanted to take a picture near where Broadway and 7th Avenue meet. There were a couple of Orthodox Jewish gentlemen nearby and after I asked, they agreed to take my picture.


I learned that they were from Israel and when I told them that I would be going there tomorrow, they were very happy for me. I asked them if they visited New York before and they told me they had, as they feel it is a very dynamic city. After chatting for a bit, I continued to head back to the Hilton, continuing south down 7th Avenue and turning right onto 42nd Street. A little before 9:00PM, I arrived at the Hilton.
Before I went upstairs, I made sure to say hello to Rodney, as I learned that he works later in the day as opposed to earlier, so I wanted to make sure I saw him before I left the hotel. Rodney was happy to see me and wanted to know how my day was? I told him that I had an awesome day and that I was able to do everything I wanted. Since he did not work the mornings, he wished me fantastic trip and told me that he hoped my mom or me would come back again. I thanked him for an excellent stay and his gracious hospitality and headed upstairs. I could not believe that until July 2nd, 2016, I would be outside of the United States for the first time in my life. When I got back to my room, I got settled, but not without taking one last picture of the view.

It was about 9:05PM by the time I got up to my room, so I got ready for bed and once that was done, I called my Mom to let her know that another great day had ended and all was well. We spoke for a while and then wished each other a good night. I then decided to call El Al Israel Airlines next, as I had read something online prior that you could not take a shaving razor with you. I was perplexed, so I called them and spoke to a nice lady who did not know if you could take a razor in your checked bag, but that you could not take one in your carry-on for security reasons. Still confused, I called Dory, one of our group leaders. As I found out, she was busy preparing to go to the airport the next morning also and was still awake. I asked her about the razor and she said that what El Al meant was that you could put it in your razor in your checked bag, not your carry-on bag. Once that was done, I set my alarm on my phone at 5:00AM after putting it into charge and requested a wake-up call at the same time before I fell asleep at 10:00PM. At around this time tomorrow, I would be en route to Israel and I could not believe it!

londonfog

Thank you for sharing very personal and private moments. You made me think of the previous generations of my family that I knew very well and are no longer with us. In a way, reading about your visit made me visit with my ancestors!
P.S. I am much older than you are and I was blessed to know many members of previous generations. Their memory has indeed been a blessing for me and I wish you the same!

WolfieG

You are very welcome londonfog and I am glad to share these personal and private moments, as the previous generations of my family are very important to me and this was an important part of the trip, as I went to the cemetery as I wanted to have their spirituality with me! I did not know that reading my TR would make you visit your ancestors and I am honored that my TR was able to help you do this! Don't worry about it you are never too old to know members of previous generations. Thank you very much and I wish that their memory is a blessing for you too londonfog!

adampenrith

Winston Churchill said after the Battle of Britain - that so many are thankful for the actions of so few (or similar)

Your Uncle Meyer is indeed on of those and certainly a tzaddik

It is your responsibility to tell his story and keep his memory alive.

Mazel Tov

farbster

Very nice report so far! So many details

Looking forward to hearing about Birthright. It should make for a really unique TR.

Thanks again!

aSiAnRiCk

Thanks for sharing this very detailed trip report with us. Looking forward to see the rest ^

I hope you and your mom did okay with Hurricane Irma. I live just north of you in the city of Boynton Beach.

I visited in Israel this past July and spent 6 days there. Rented a car and drove to the Caesarea, Haifa, old city Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Capernaum, Tiberias and Nazareth. OMG it was really hot when I was there and I'm pretty sure a speed camera ticket is coming in the mail for me

Tel Aviv reminds me of South Beach and I enjoy walking around Jaffa area.

I must say Israel was a pretty expensive city to visit for me. Apparently $25 - $30 dish for dinner is the norm there. That explains why I ate mostly falafel for lunch AND dinner lol. Exactly what my friend said prior to the trip, imagine you're going to South Beach and what they charged for tourists lol

Safe travels,

-Rick

WolfieG

You're very welcome aSiAnRiCk! It is my pleasure to share this detailed trip report with you, as I hope to recapture the amazing memories and make you feel like you are there with me. Thank you I should be posting another installment or two soon, so I hope you enjoy them!

Thank you aSiAnRiCk we fared pretty well during Hurricane Irma. While it was more intense than Hurricane Sandy, which we went through when we lived in New York, because Florida is far more prepared for hurricanes, it was not too bad. We lost a few very small trees in our community and were without power for about 16 hours, but Baruch Hashem, all was fine! Awesome, I love Boynton Beach too and I am glad to have a fellow Floridian following my TR too! How did you fare during Irma?

That is amazing I hope that you loved Israel as much as I did. I spent ten days and visited all of the cities you did above except for Capernaum, most of Haifa, and Nazareth. In addition to the cities we both visited I also went to Tzfat, Masada, and the Negev Desert, where we spent the night at a Bedouin tent. I will admit, the ten days flew and there is a lot I wish to see when I return. It was pretty hot when I was there also and except for Tel Aviv, it is a drier heat than in Florida. One day, it even hit 105 degrees Fahrenheit! Haha I hope not I am no fan of red light or speed cameras haha!

I agree with you 100% Tel Aviv definitely reminds me of Miami, especially South Beach and I enjoyed walking around Jaffa. In addition to Miami, some portions of Tel Aviv, like the business district, reminded me a bit of Downtown Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

I will not disagree that Israel is not cheap, but it was not as expensive as I thought it would be and was likely less expensive than Europe. Dinner was included on the trip so I don't know how much it would cost but $25-$30 sounds about right. I could spend that at a nice restaurant on Atlantic Avenue, so Israel is not that much more for me. Schwarma lunches typically cost $12-$17 depending upon the location, so this would be comparable and at worst, only slightly more than in South Florida and a little less than in New York. Haha the falafel is amazing but I don't blame you. However, I did find that the food was delicious and portions tended to be on the larger side for the most part. Haha that is a good way to look at it! Thank you again and cannot wait to talk more aSiAnRiCk!

WolfieG

a) Before Airport:
After another restful night’s sleep, I woke up exactly on time at 5:00AM. I unplugged my phone and then packed its charger with my other electronics before I went to brush my teeth, shave, and shower. After I was clean, I then put on my clothes, which included a Disney World 2017 t -shirt that I got online as part of a 30% off Disney Parks merchandise sale. I checked my suitcase to make sure I had everything and then put my toiletry bag in my suitcase. I then checked my backpack to make sure all of my electronic gear, such as my iPhone charger, camera, and extra AA batteries for my camera were packed. Needless to say, I was good to go! By the time I was done getting ready and doing my last minute packing, it was 6:00AM, so I ate my delicious and filling breakfast of leftover turkey and vegetables from Junior’s the following night. I admired the beautiful view one last time and got a picture of the New York Times building and a little bit of New Jersey, since I was looking west.

Finished getting ready and with breakfast, I decided to check the room one last time for anything I could forget. Since I had left nothing behind, I was ready to go and I took all of my belongings with me. I left my room and turned left to go down the hall, where I caught an elevator down to the lobby. When I got there, I first went to the business center, where I printed a boarding pass for the bus to Newark Airport. Once this was done, I went to check out and Sabrina, the same lady who checked me in, assisted me. The check out took no time and she asked me how my stay was? I told her it was excellent, as the employees provided excellent service, the room was very clean and comfortable, and the atmosphere was buzzing. Once check out was complete, I thanked Sabrina and she wished me a great day! I took the elevator down to the entrance and exited via the 41st Street entrance, ready to start my journey to Newark Airport. Overall, I would definitely stay at the Hilton Times Square again if I were visiting New York City as it was centrally located, the service was excellent, the room was clean and comfortable, and the atmosphere was lively and modern.

b) Getting to Airport:
After exiting the Hilton via the 41st Street entrance, I turned right on 41st Street to head west to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Thanks to various people on Flyertalk, I realized the bus to Newark Airport was the best option in my case and learned that it departs from the tunnel portion of the Port Authority on 41st Street just west of 8th Avenue. I crossed 8th Avenue and continued to walk down 41st Street, where I found the clearly marked Newark Airport stop not too far away. I was ten minutes early for the 7:00AM bus to Newark, so I was happy. I called my mom to let her know that all was well and that I would soon be on my way. As we were talking, the Newark Airport Express bus arrived right on time!

I boarded the bus and was first greeted by the driver, who was polite and professional. I put my suitcase on the rack and found a seat towards the rear of the bus. The bus was reminiscent of a city bus with its seats plus a rental car shuttle bus with its luggage rack. While we were waiting and as more people embarked, another employee came by to check our tickets. Once this was underway, we were good to go and left the bus stop. We started the drive by going west down 41st Street.

We then crossed 9th Avenue.

After 9th Avenue, we then turned left to enter the Lincoln Tunnel (NY-495/NJ-495).


So far, traffic was light and that continued as we drove through the Lincoln Tunnel. About five minutes later, we exited the tunnel in Weehawken, NJ. We went around the loop that you go around after you exit the Lincoln Tunnel and from there, I was able to get a good view of the New York City skyline.

Unfortunately, there was some heavy traffic heading west, so that added a bit to our drive time. We continued west on NJ-495 and passed through Weehawken.

Traffic continued to move slowly until an interchange for US-1/9 in North Bergen.

After this point, traffic moved fast once again and we exited on to I-95/New Jersey Turnpike southbound as we crossed over the interchange for NJ-3 west towards Clifton. We then exited onto I-95/New Jersey Turnpike and headed southbound. En route, we first passed the Alexander Hamilton Service Area in Secaucus.

We continued to pass through Secaucus, where I caught a great view of some marshland below. I could also see that we were about to merge with the westbound spur of I-95/New Jersey Turnpike, so I knew we were getting closer to Newark Airport.

We merge with the westbound spur of I-95/New Jersey Turnpike in Kearny and overhead, I saw an Air India Boeing 777-300 coming in for a landing.

By 7:30AM, we were already passing through Newark and I could see it in the distance.

Three minutes later, we were one mile from Exit 14-14A-14B-14C: I-78/US-1/9/US-22 towards Newark Airport, Holland Tunnel.

We exited onto US-1/9 and about ten minutes later, we were about to arrive at Newark Liberty International Airport. Across the way, I saw the Anheuser-Busch factory across from the airport. We then entered the airport, with the bus first stopping at Terminal A. After that, I disembarked at Terminal B, as that is where my group would be meeting and the terminal at Newark that El Al operates from. Overall, the Newark Airport Express bus worked out well and I could not believe that I was already at the airport, about to head to Israel! Now off of the bus, I entered Terminal B.


**Flight Information**
Origin Airport: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, NJ
Destination Airport: Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), Lod, Israel
Airline and Flight Number: El Al Israel Airlines (LY) 28
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200ER
Registration: 4X-ECE aka “Sderot”
Cabin, Seat: Economy, 49D (originally assigned to 50F followed by 46A due to switching requests from flight attendant and fellow passengers)
Scheduled Departure/Actual Departure: 1:30PM/1:25PM
Scheduled Arrival/Actual Arrival: 7:15AM +1/6:45AM +1
Origin Airport Terminal, Gate: Terminal B, Gate B62
Destination Airport Terminal, Gate: Terminal 3, Gate D8

*SPECIAL NOTES:
-First time travelling to Israel
-First time traveling internationally
-First time flying internationally
-First time travelling to Asia
-First time travelling to the Middle East
-First time taking a trans-oceanic flight
-First time flying El Al Israel Airlines
-First time flying on a Boeing 777-200ER
-First time flying out of Newark Airport


c) At Airport:
Since I had never been to Newark Airport as I had always used JFK or LaGuardia Airports, as those choices were far more convenient to where I lived. When I entered the airport, I found it not to be that busy and while it was older looking, it looked clean and well maintained. I found the terminal had a 1950s-1960s style thanks to the architecture, not unlike the style found at JFK’s Terminal 5 for jetBlue or JFK’s Terminal 3 aka the Pan-Am Worldport, which housed Pan Am and Delta Air Lines. I found a Pack & Weigh station, so I decided to weigh my bag and I found that due to moving a couple items into my backpack, my suitcase lost two pounds from 51 to 49 pounds. Not bad considering all I was taking to Israel!

Since I had never been to Newark Airport before, the layout was a little confusing initially. The reason for this was unlike other airports I have visited, the checkout counters were spread across multiple levels, as the sign by the elevator stated. Since the El Al counter was on Level 3, I took the elevator depicted below upstairs.

I then arrived on Level 3.

Once there, I was able to determine that the El Al counter was to the right once I got off of the elevator. A short time later, I found Dory, Spencer, and some other participants from our group. As soon as I met Dory, Spencer, and twelve other participants who were there if memory serves me correctly, we all meshed immediately and we had a grand old time getting to know each other. It was about 8:00AM and the group had to meet at 8:30AM, so we still had to wait for 27 other participants if my memory served me correctly as mentioned in the previous sentence. While some participants were from the Tri-State Area, there were others who were coming from afar. As we were waiting, we saw two other Birthright groups and there was a little bit of confusion, as they had a little bit of trouble finding their groups. Thankfully, we saw the other groups and we were able to point them in the right direction. By 8:30AM, everyone had arrived and we were just about ready to check in. I had a grand old time getting to know everyone while we were waiting as we all introduced ourselves and talked about our lives. While this was happening, Tatianna, one of the staff members from the Israel Free Spirit office in New York City instructed us to sign waivers that detailed the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption, such as how it could get us kicked off of the trip and force us to fly home at our own expense. In addition, we also were to get our nametags. We signed the forms and then handed them into Tatianna and our group leaders. As we were waiting, we had more fun getting to know each other and I got a picture of the group waiting, with Jonathan from New York making a peace sign.

Once the waivers were handed in, we were instructed to proceed for check-in for our flight. Our instructions were that we had to first go through the El Al security interview, check in, and meet at our departure gate no later than 11:30AM, where we would do an icebreaker activity at and await the departure of our flight. I then lined up with the group, where I spent the time chatting with Jonathan from New York and Alex from New Jersey due to the fact that we were in line together. I learned they were best friends who met during their undergraduate studies at the University of West Virginia. They decided to go on Birthright together and were ready to have a grand old time! The security interviews began and if I am not mistaken, there were five or six security agents stationed at the podiums. The line moved fairly fast and about fifteen minutes later, Leah, from El Al security, was ready to interview me. She was very friendly and thorough. After I introduced myself, I handed her my passport and she inquired about the purpose of my trip and I answered that it was for Birthright. She then asked why the D and the S were abbreviated on my Passport. I told her it was because the D and the S were my middle initials and I needed it to match my drivers’ license. She understood and asked what the D and S stood for and I answered. She asked if I knew Hebrew and I told her not much, except for some basic phrases like Shalom and Toda Raba as well as the prayers for Tefellin. She asked me to recite the prayers and I did so with pleasure. Leah then asked me if I went to synagogue and where? I told her that I currently go to the Chabad of West Boca with my Mom. She then asked me about my family and I said that I live with my mother in Delray Beach, FL. When she asked if I had any siblings, I told her that I was an only child, unless pets counted. She asked about my pets and I told her that I have dogs and guinea pigs. She then asked me if I knew anything about the system the Israelis use for airport security? I told her yes thanks to a Sociology of Race and Ethnicity Class I took as part of my Sociology major during my undergraduate years. I said that I learned that the Israelis use more behavioral profiling than we do and it has proven to be very effective! After this point, Leah thanked me for my time and handed me back my passport. She then said I had to do nothing further except proceed to check-in. All in all, the interview was even better than I expected. I think what they are looking for is that you do not act suspiciously and that you are honest and transparent. Most, if not all of the people on my trip agreed as far as I knew and thought the process went well.
With the security interview complete, I proceeded to the check in counter. The line moved quickly and a check-in agent, who was polite and professional, assisted me. He weighed my suitcase and as suspected, I was just under the weight limit, as I had weighed it earlier at one of the weighing stations in the terminal and came in at 49 pounds. He also printed my boarding pass with a departure gate of B62 and a seat assignment of seat 50F, which was a middle seat towards the back of the Boeing 777-200ER that would operate our flight. While an aisle seat or window seat would have been preferable, it was what it was and I was just excited to get to Israel, so I did not care! With check-in complete and about two hours until I had to be at the gate, I met up with some other participants and headed to the gate level via the down escalator.



To be continued...