[img]96|left|Shachar||no_popup[/img]Dateline America — It has been two years since I was last in the U.S. Thank G-d I arrived safely after a 12- hour flight from Tel Aviv to New York, 5-hour wait in the airport terminal at JFK, another 3-hour flight to Florida, and 3 _-hour drive to the first destination of my journey (normally less than 2 hours).

Tomorrow, G-d willing ,I shall fly out again and arrive safely at my ultimate destination of California where I will drive for another 2 hours to get to my first stop there. For someone who hates to travel, it seems I am doing an awful lot of it in a very short time, and without advance notice to anyone.

Here Is a Tip: He Will Say ‘No’

I made arrangements for my taxi driver to take me to the airport and pick me up when I return to Israel. I use him wherever I go in Israel. He is less expensive than other drivers, and his service is personalized. When I injured my foot last summer, he was the one who went out of his way to get the head of the local health insurance company to make special arrangements for my x-rays so I would not be inconvenienced getting in and out of the taxi at various destinations before the hospital. He also drove all over town trying to find me crutches late at night, and did not charge me for the travel. When I try to tip him, he returns my money and tells me “no.” If I insist, he says “next time.” But there never is a next time because he always refuses to accept anything extra.

Where in the U.S. are there taxi drivers like this man?

What Would You Like to Eat?

Curbside at the airport in Tel Aviv, luggage carts are available for everyone FREE of charge (it cost me $5 for a cart at JFK and $4 for a cart in Orlando). I loaded my check-in and carry-on baggage onto the cart and walked toward the endless line of passengers at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel. Security at the airport in Tel Aviv does not involve full body scanners or other invasive procedures, no taking off shoes or other inconveniences. Specially trained airport personnel initially ask questions. They are trained to recognize body language, voice nuances, eyes, and other subtleties. Israel is world renowned for its security and flight safety. That is why I always fly the Israeli national airline El Al if given the opportunity. It might cost a bit more, but the peace of mind is worth it. Also they do not charge per suitcase like the flights I have in the U.S. But as per my normal experience, I am always pulled out of line and questioned more than anyone else. I must be on a list of potentially problematic passengers.

Although the food on El Al is kosher, I order special glatt kosher/Bedatz meals. The flight left after midnight but within minutes I was served with my first snack, a warm french roll filled with beef and peppers, seasoned to perfection. My snack on my flight from N.Y. to Florida was a miniature bag of kosher pretzels. And my 6-hour flight from Florida to California will also have only the kosher pretzels. No-frills flying at its best on U.S. air carriers. My last meal before landing in the U.S. was breakfast consisting of an omelet (I don't eat eggs so I gave it away), a braided challah roll with butter, and cream cheese with kosher caviar to put on it, a mixed salad with tangy dressing, fruit, hummus, coffee and mineral water. One never goes hungry on El Al flights, and the meals are included, even if served during the middle of the night.

I also order an aisle seat to accommodate my claustrophobia, even though I have no idea where I can “escape” to thousands of miles high in the sky. Two sisters sat in my row. It was a good thing they were thin and athletic because they would stand on the arm rests and climb over each other and me to get to the aisle. They were like circus acrobats. I was very impressed and told them so. But, if something goes wrong, it will happen to me. My idea of learning Hebrew during the flight was curtailed by the fact that my row on the plane was the only one in which the overhead lights did not work. So, I was “stuck” watching movies, TV shows, news shows, and following the flight path of the plane on my personal TV/movie screen in front of my seat. Midway, the flight attendants brought us hot towels to refresh our hands and faces.

New York was supposed to have a blizzard. I was afraid of flight delays or being unable to get out of the airport for my connecting flight. When I arrived, the snow was only a couple of inches deep and the skies were clear. However, I have since learned that N.Y. is now snowbound. Many people on my flight to Florida went standby because they knew of the snowstorm forecast and rushed to the airport to avoid being stranded. I was a little nervous on my flight to Florida because just before takeoff we smelled a gasoline or hydraulic fluid odor. Throughout the flight a child in the row behind me kept asking if we were all going to die before he could get to Disney World.

After arriving in Florida, my father ordered a car service to pick me up at the airport. The usual driver was detained elsewhere and sent someone else who got lost but eventually found me. Halfway home his car started to shake. There was a loud noise. It felt and sounded like we were having a blowout. I must be a jinx to everyone because I cannot seem to go anywhere without it being an adventure.

G-d willing, tomorrow I will safely be in California.

L'hitraot. Shachar