The most stressful part of my entire week in the Holy Land was negotiating for lunch in Bethlehem. Oh how I hate it when restaurants don’t have posted prices! We were right in tourist central, near the Church of the Nativity, and hungry for lunch. The touts were aggressive and every placed looked tasty. We […]
Coffee And Politics At The Walled Off Hotel In Bethlehem

If you’re ever in Bethlehem, don’t miss the Walled Off Hotel, even if just for a cup of coffee. It was the most memorable visit of the entire week. Bankrolled by the artist Banksy, this is not only one of the finest hotels and best coffee shops in Bethlehem, but a bold political statement. The Separation […]
Is Bethlehem Safe?

I’ve been talking to people about my trip to Israel and have heard the same question, over and over: Isn’t Bethlehem In the West Bank? Wasn’t that risky? You went into the West Bank? Is that safe? The very question betrays a certain bias and I want to make clear that Bethlehem is indeed very […]
How To Get From Jerusalem To Bethlehem Cheaply And Easily By Bus

Taking Bus 231 between Jerusalem and Bethlehem is a cheap and easy option that I highly recommend over a taxi or private guide. If you’ve been reading my Israel trip report, you know that we tried to keep expenses down during the trip. I considered just hiring a tour guide for our day trip to […]
Hilton Hotel Cancels ICE Agents’ Reservations, Sparks DHS Backlash And Corporate Damage Control

A controversy involving a Hilton-branded hotel in Minnesota is drawing national attention after federal immigration agents alleged their reservations were canceled because of their affiliation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The incident has prompted responses from the Department of Homeland Security, the hotel’s franchise owner, and Hilton corporate, highlighting the often-murky divide between brand […]
United Airlines Ends Landline Bus Service As American Airlines Expands It

American Airlines is adding another New Jersey airport to its route network, offering “Landline” service by bus to Philadelphia International Airport, while United Airlines is scrapping its two remaining bus routes. American Airlines’ “Landline” Bus Service Expands American Airlines is expanding its branded bus connection called Landline as part of its regional network strategy. This […]
The Glorious Baby. My 2023 Christmas Reflection

Although I am not a theologian or pastor, I like to offer an annual Christmas reflection. This year, death takes a central role in my reflection, both for events thousands of miles away and one tragic event in my own family. And indeed the Christmas story itself is not just about birth, but about death […]
The One Country In The World I Would Not Travel To Right Now

The world is a complex place. As I’ve made my way through it, now at a country count of 141, I’ve seen that media reports are often misleading, cities are not what they may seem to outsiders, and some of the most joyous moments of my travel have been in the places I have been […]
Banksy: Genius Or Vandal? A Provocative Exhibition In Los Angeles

I took Heidi on a date to the Banksy: Genius or Vandal? exhibition in Culver City, California, not too far from Los Angeles International Airport. We both loved it and I highly recommend it if you are in the LA area. Banksy Expo in Los Angeles Is Worth Your While Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based […]
Americans Get Scammed In Mykonos: How To Avoid

An American couple visiting Mykonos, Greece encountered a horrible surprise when they were slapped with a huge bill for a small lunch. They fell prey to a common tourist restaurant scam that I’ve witnessed (and thankfully never fallen victim to) around the world. Here’s how you can avoid it. Tourist Restaurant Scam: How To Identify […]
No Room At The Inn? My 2020 Christmas Reflection

On this very turbulent Christmas in this very turbulent year, I’m drawn back to the first Christmas. Stick with me. I’m not a theologian or a pastor. This is still a travel blog. But I want to work through a familiar story and then bring it back to us today. No Room At The Inn? […]
U.S. Airlines Now Authorized To Suspend Service To 62 Airports, Despite Objections

U.S. airlines have officially been granted the right to suspend service to a total of 62 airports on the basis of reduced demand. Last month, I provided a list of destinations that the U.S. Department of Transportation provisionally approved for airline service suspensions. Despite numerous objections, the provisional approval is now a final approval. Note: […]
15 U.S. Airlines Plan To Suspend Service To 62 Airports (Full List)

The U.S. Department of Transportation has tentatively given 15 U.S. airlines the approval to drop service to 62 airports. The CARES Act requires that all airlines maintain service to all U.S. airports they served pre-COVID-19, but the DOT has begun to loosen that mandate. With demand weak, airlines have lobbied to secure service exemptions. The […]
Great Coffee In Israel

My trip to Israel was filled with great cups of coffee. Here’s a look at some of my favorites across the country. Great Coffee In Jerusalem Enoteca Espresso & Wine Bar Hanotsrim 18, Jerusalem / +972 2-585-7726 We stumbled upon this coffee shop on a rainy afternoon and stopped for a break. It’s located in […]
Traveling In Israel With A Young Child

Is it even worthwhile to travel with a young child to Israel? My answer is YES. For years I wanted to take my wife to Israel, the top destination on her travel bucket list. Our three-year-old son was inconvenient in the sense that he certainly slowed us down. But it was so precious to have […]
Driving In Israel

I want to briefly address what it was like to drive in Israel, just in case you are visiting and considering it. In short, it was generally easy. My Driving Experience In Israel After taking a train from Tel Aviv Airport to Jerusalem then spending a few days exploring by foot (or bus), we rented […]
The Best Kanafeh In Israel

I’ve written about kanafeh before…my favorite dessert in the world. I had the great pleasure of introducing my wife and son to kanafeh during our recent trip to Israel. Here are two places I strongly recommend for really tasty kanafeh. Kanafeh is a traditional Arab dessert made with layers of cheese and dough, topped in pistachios and […]
How I Spent Three Days In Jerusalem

We began our trip to Israel in Jerusalem, an ancient city with deep links to the Abrahamic faiths. Our three days focused on religious sites, but we also enjoyed the joy of bartering in the Old City and found unexpected sanctuary…in a sanctuary. Day #1: Acclimation We arrived Sunday afternoon and after taking the “high […]
Introduction: A Week In Israel

Despite a lot of rain, my family and I had a good week in Israel. A great week actually. But I’m not sure how to write about it… My Israel trip report will not be about flights, though I will talk about our EasyJet flights from Basel to Tel Aviv and back. It also won’t […]
Help Me Plan My Trip To Israel!

I’ve decided to take my family to Israel next week. That doesn’t give me much time to plan. For years, I’ve wanted to take my family to the Holy Land. With so much uncertainly in the air for 2020, I decided now is the time…it might be a very long time before we are able […]

