Israel

1986 -- This was an interesting place. We did not only stay in the port we arrived in, but soon after went to some kibbutz where my parents had friends staying. They'd invited us some time back. It was fun -- a different experience. We stayed in one of the guest houses, and Damien and I played with the kibbutzi children. I don't know what Phil and ma did; I do remember being with the children more than with the adults.

After the kibbutzim experience, we went to Jerusalem. The hostel at which we stayed, now remembering back, was horrible. But at the time it was novel and I thought it was a really nice place. For some reason the calendar in one of the rooms stands out. It has nothing to do with the fact that it was filled with semi-nude women. Really. Nothing at all.

At Jerusalem we went around sight-seeing a fair bit; I don't remember much except for that wall that means so much to Orthodox Jews. I don't even recall what it is called. Anyhow, it was a bit bewildering to see men placing paper in it and talking to a wall. Phil had a good laugh over my questions about it.

Not long after leaving Jerusalem, the hostel and the area in which we stayed were bombed. Boy were we glad that we left when we did.

Here again we met up with people. The Freebooter and her residents; Courtney and Olden were not the best of people, especially at their respective ages at the time. Their parents don't ring too many bells, but I do know that we had fun with the two boys, and with the other boy that was there at the time—not that I can remember his name for the life of me. They liked to hang around with myself and my brother because we were so easily trained, I guess. Not that I necessarily blame them. It must have been hilarious getting away with what they did.

There was a treehouse that we all used, and one day we had chocolate in a Tupperware bowl up there with us. That bowl stayed in the treehouse for quite a while, though very empty. It was so squishy in the playhouse that we would have to curl up and practically not move in it. We stayed there mostly out of the fact that there was a treehouse there than anything else. One of the things that we learnt there was how to cool a bottle of liquid without the benefit of a fridge or freezer. Just secure the bottle (and it has to be glass) and throw it overboard while going forwards, trailing the bottle in the water. It worked, I must say. Damien and I were considerably surprised at it doing so, and I've remembered it ever since.