The Plight of the Un-Named Un-Born

Our decision to go to Israel started when we heard that Kibbutz Ha'Ogen, where I used to live, were having their 60th anniversary parties over a weekend in September (the Jewish high holidays), and many people who live or used to live on the kibbutz are joining the festivities.  Once the decision to go for two weeks was initiated we started to make arrangements.

Our welcome image

As mentioned, our dates were already set, so that hurdle was decided for us. We decided to go with Continental as our carrier of choice, their prices were good (1,220.20

USD per person including all taxes and fees) and they had several flight options.  As is the case, we will have a 2.5 year old and a four month old with us, so we booked two night flights (back and fourth) leaving at 22:00 and landing around 16:00 the next day.  Taking night flights we figured (we hope) the kids will sleep the whole way through.  We purposely paid a bit more to flight straight through, without a layover.  I also bought tickets on Friday night for two reasons:

1)    On the way back it will give us the weekend to "recover" before going to work.

2)    There will be no orthodox Jews on the plane (it's the Sabbath). 

<RANT>

I know it's not politically correct, but from my previous flight experience they have been nothing but rude.  You can say all you want about culture, patience, tolerance etc.  

Rude is rude!  That's that.  Especially to those who they don't consider "real" Jews (like myself).

There is no reason I should be tolerant of intolerant practices.

</RANT>

Since we will have a toddler with us, we asked Continental for seats which will accommodate the airline provided bassinet.  However there was a problem, the baby is not born yet, and we cannot buy a ticket without a name, and cannot be guaranteed any seats.  We had to buy three tickets (for those who were already born), and hope for the best.

We never knew there was discrimination against the un-named un-born.

The un-dead ... sure.

My parents also said they'll take the same flight, so once we had the flight number and tickets they joined us and are sitting behind us.

We are glad; they'll be great help with the kids.

Passports.

We needed a passport for our daughter, and renew one more.  The US currently changed their passport rules, which means that they have been mobbed with requests and are backed up.  So getting a passport in time became a priority.  Again we were faced with discrimination against the un-named un-born.  

Being the kind of people who don't like to hear "we can't" as an answer from customer service we called Continental again.  This time we got a person who said they could secure a seat for us and the baby.

Looks like the LUNUB (League for the Un-Named Un-Born) has stepped up it's influence.

Now we have time to sit a bit and relaxed my wife (her first visit), scoured the Internet and interigated her friends about where to visit and what to do.  We came up with a list of several places which we want to hit:

Jersusalem (of course)

Haifa

The Galil area

Sea of Galilee

Acre (Acho)

Caesarea

Dead sea and Masada

(the list will grow).

I'd also like, if we have time, to go to Petra; but so far it doesn't look like it will be realized.