Our Itinerary
Wednesday, March 27th 4:30pm: Leave from Chicago O'Hare airport for Amsterdam This flight will be an 8 hour flight. We will land in Amsterdam at 7:30am Amsterdam time...12:30am Chicago time...ouch!
Thursday, March 28th, 7:30am: Arrive in Amsterdam with a 10 hour 20 min. layover. We hope to be able to leave the airport and see the beautiful Dutch bulbs as we will be there during tulip season!
Thursday, March 28th, 5:50pm: Leave from Amsterdam airport for Tel Aviv. This is a 4 hour 40 min. flight.
Thursday, March 28th 11:30pm: Arrive in Tel Aviv, Israel... 3:30pm Chicago time... it's been 23hours since we left Chicago. Upon our arrival we will take a Sherut: a uniquely Israeli phenomenon: a shared limousine seating 7-10 passengers which follows inter-city and local bus routes but will take us directly to Rob and Rachel's door. The ride is expected to take us 1 hour.
Friday, March 29th: Today is GOOD FRIDAY. We are planning to go to downtown Jerusalem to take care of some food shopping at the outdoor market..the Mahane Yehuda. Rob has suggested some sightseeing overlooks around the city or possible going to a Bible-related Museum depending on what we're up for.
Saturday, March 30th: Today one of Rob's Israeli friends has offered to guide us around the Old City and through the Via Dolorosa.
Sunday, March 31st: Today is EASTER SUNDAY. We will attend a sunrise service in the area where it is believed Jesus was buried. We will go back to the old city in the afternoon where Rachael and Abigail will be baptized.
Monday, April 1st Today we are planning on visiting the Mount of Olives and walking up the 170 step Redeemer Tower (if it's open) in the Old City.
Tuesday, April 2nd Today we are hoping to rent a car and drive with the Holmstedts to the Dead Sea.
Wednesday, April 3rd Depending on the situation here, we are hoping to be able to take a rental car into Tel Aviv and spend some time on the Mediterranean Sea.
Thursday, April 4th Today we fly home. We will leave Ben Guiron airport at 5:30 am (which means we have to be there by 3:30 or so). We are expected to land in Chicago around 11:45am.