Friday & Saturday - Jerash & Heading Home

on March 05, 2011 by Walt Dilg

Friday & Saturday – Last Day & Coming Home

                We loaded our bags on the bus for our departure from Jordan, early Friday morning.   Yet before crossing back into Israel, we headed first to Jerash, and had a delightful morning at this great Greco-Roman ruin.  The cardo, a couple of temple structures, some later Byzantine churches – it was marvelous, rivaling Beit Shean. 

                After lunch, we made our way north to the border crossing closer to the Galilee.  And just like at Allenby Bridge, we had four checkpoints in the crossing.  At our first, we had to unload all our luggage and walk it through Jordanian security.  The metal detector wasn’t even plugged in, yet a few of our bags were hand searched.  At least Meri and Mike were chosen for that.   Then we loaded the bags back on the bus and went to the next Jordanian checkpoint, at which we all filed through a passport screening for which we were fingerprinted and eyescanned.  Bidding good bye to our Jordanian guide, we now traveled unescorted to Israel’s side of the crossing.  At this first Israeli stop we had our passports checked and submitted our Jordanian exit fee receipt.  Then at the next check point, this is check point four now, the bus was searched and then we were told to take our luggage through a security screening.  All passed but many were  searched by hand, and Mike and Meri were chosen again among the lucky.  

                Finally, we boarded our new Israeli bus, with our new Israeli guide and headed away from the crossing and into the countryside of the Galilee.  Hours spent crossing – clearly security is key in this region, and it was amazing how redundant it all was.   Our new Israeli guide  was Jewish, so we got another perspective on the issues a bit different from our Palestinian Christian guide.  It was an interesting contrast that helped to clarify the  divergent point of views on the same facts on the ground. 

                We made our way to Jaffa outside Tel Aviv for dinner and it was excellent in a Arab dinner.  Then headed to airport.  The screening ordeal began again.  As we drove into the airport we were stopped and had the bus and our passports checked.  Then once we got inside the terminal we formed one of the five lines filling the terminal area and waited at least an hour prior to being interviewed and  moved along.  As tour leader, I got a special screening, but not as thorough as Miko.  Glad to say we all got through, but not without some personal luggage searches again, and guess who was among those chosen?  Mike and Meri!  They must have looked suspicious somehow. 

                Exhausted, we boarded our midnight flight to JFK, bidding farewell to Israel.  Blessing to you all and hoping to hear from you or see you soon.  Shalom.  Salaam.