REI expandable packing cubes

I love packing cubes. They help me organize anything that I need to pack with me. I use them for the gym, I use them if I’m going between my place and Craig’s, I use them for travel.

That brings me to the REI expandable packing cubes. I see them not so much as expandable, but compressible. They’re great for filling up as much as I need or want to bring with me on a trip and then compressing it down as much as I possibly can. I started with just one last year. I now have three (and two from Eagle Creek). They’re very thin and lightweight. They’re also inexpensive for what they’re really worth. I would say that they lack structure, but when they’re full, that doesn’t matter at all.

These are my lovelies, in sizes XS, S and M.

I started with the Small cube and decided to buy the other two when I realized that I would need more for a longer trip and I much prefer the compression models to other types of packing cubes, why wouldn’t I? They help me take more while taking up less space!

Around the time I got the Medium cube and the XS cube, I also got the Eagle Creek Pack-It Compression Cubes. Unlike the REI cubes, they’re advertised as compression cubes instead of cubes you can expand to fit more. They’re also very structured and made of a thicker material so they’re heavier, but they help keep my clothes from wrinkling as much as the REI cubes. I use both styles and like them both to suit my needs.

As an aside, I much prefer the square or rectangular shaped packing cubes, not the tube shaped ones. I don’t feel like I can easily put my clothes in them, but I suppose that they’re great for compressing rolled clothes and keeping them rolled. I just prefer the square and rectangular ones because I have the choice of whether or not I want to roll my clothes, with the tube shaped cubes, that choice is essentially made for me.

*none of the links that I’ve used here are affiliate links.

What’s in my “tech bag”

I carry most of the tech both Craig and I will need for our trips. Mostly because i’m paranoid that I will lose or forget something, so I carry extras. I carry two pairs of headphones, lightning cables, usb plugs, you name it.

Recently, I picked up a travel surge protector that comes with two usb ports and two outlet plugs. It’s awesome and will be coming with me on any trip in the foreseeable future. I also carry at least one powerbank with me. I have two, a large one that holds about 2.5 iPhone 5S charges and one smaller one that holds just one phone charge with just one usb to micro usb charging cable since they’re the same brand, the size works for both.

Depending on the type of trip and whether or not I have school, I also travel with both my laptop and my iPad, though since I’ve started using just the iPad for school, I’ve been taking the laptop much less.

I have traditionally carried a 30-pin cable to charge my ipad, but if I forgot it or it broke, they’ve been so cheap to replace that I haven’t worried much about it. Now I have an ipad mini, which uses the same lightning cable that the iphones use so that’s one less cable that I have to bring!

Surprisingly enough, I also carry a sleep mask, silicone ear plugs and a blow up neck pillow in my tech bag. I have the Cabeau memory foam neck pillow and it’s awesome, but sometimes Craig needs one, or I forget to throw my nice one in my bag. My silicone ear plugs  from Mack’s are actually rated for kids and block up to 22 dB of noise, just enough when I mix them with my sleep headphones I treated myself to after doing surprisingly well on an exam in organic chemistry. They’re lightweight and comfortable and they keep me a bit warmer which is nice. There’s just one downside to them and that’s the initial adjusting part, which can take a while, but they’re snug and comfy and have surprisingly decent sound quality without being painful to lie on. They’re not noise cancelling, but they’re noise reducing which is just fine with me. I usually reserve my iPhone headphones for Craig in case he forgets his and sometimes, if I do want noise cancellation, and what I’ve brought on past trips before I got the sleep headphones, I use my $5 dollar spot Target over ear headphones. I don’t think they make them anymore, and I have two pairs because they’re that awesome, I can actually sleep in them, but I didn’t want to ruin them.

I only recently started using ear plugs for noise cancellation, but I’ve always had issues with the regular foam ones, they never seemed to stay in my ears. The adult sized silicone ear plugs did a great job at reducing the noise, but they were so big that they just protruded from my tiny ears. So I settled on the child sized silicone ear plugs which are moldable and can be sealed nicely to keep noise out. They’re not completely sound proof, but like I said, they’re good enough when combined with my headphones. On a red eye flight, this combo will work magic with Welcome to Night Vale. Not exactly in my tech bag, but it’s a podcast I’m getting into and it’s better than paying for wifi just to have something to do, it’s very Twilight Zone-esque.

Now, craig does carry his own computer and his phone, so I’m not settled with ALL the extra technology, just the small stuff so that it doesn’t get lost, don’t worry!

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How did I go from overpacking to just right?

We went on Birthright last summer. They sure ask you to take a lot of things with you. On one hand, I understand since it’s going to be hot and you’re not going to have a ton of downtime, you’re likely not going to be able to wash the clothes that you want to wear, so they suggest you take a lot more with you. Ready for the intense packing list for that trip  (just clothing)?

• 14 pairs of underwear
• 10 pairs of socks
• 1 nice outfit for Shabbat (coat and tie are not necessary as Israel is very casual)
• 2-3 pairs of jeans/pants
• 5-7 pairs of shorts / skirts
• 10 short sleeved shirts or T’s/tank tops
• 2 sweaters or sweatshirts or long sleeved shirts
• 2 bathing suits
• Sleepwear
• 1 pair of water shoes for hikes with water (Teva type sandals)
• 1 pair of lightweight hiking shoes/comfortable walking shoes (closed-toe). They do not need to be heavy duty just comfortable for some trail hikes (required)
• 1 towel
• 2 hats (required)

This is what I ended up bringing with me, and no, I didn’t wear it all. I don’t even remember wearing either dress I bought.

2 undershirts, 2 swim suits, 2 bras, 12 pairs of underwear, 5 pairs of socks, 2 dresses, 8 shirts, 4 pairs of shorts, a pair of pants, a shawl, a sarong, a towel and a pair of sweats for sleeping in.

That’s a lot, and I definitely over-packed. Just over a year later, after reading a lot of blogs, websites, watching some awesome youtube videos, going on several trips and really thinking about my needs, this is what I’m taking for a trip just three days shorter:

• 4 pairs of underwear
• 2 pairs of socks
• 1 packable down jacked from Uniqlo
• 1 dress
• 1 pair of black skinny pants that can double as leggings
• 1 cardigan
• 1 tank top
• 1 nicer blue top that can be dressed up or down
• 1 long sleeved v-neck
• 1 short sleeved v-neck
• 1 scarf in case I get bored with the one I wore on the plane

That’s it. That’s just the clothing that I’m packing. I almost never wear shorts, so I didn’t think I’d need to pack any with me and I’ll wear plenty of layers on the plane including comfy and really nice looking jeggings, a tank top, a v-neck, a flannel and a sweater and scarf.

I am going to bring two pairs of shoes with me, a pair of flats and a pair of sneakers for walking around. I’m going to wear the sneakers on the plane since they’re much bulkier.

Now, remember, this is just my clothes. I’m okay with having to do laundry if I have to (and I know I will, who just brings 4 pairs of underwear and doesn’t launder it?!?).

*none of the links that I’ve used here are affiliate links.

My toiletry bag

Lots of different scenarios, one long post.

I brought a lot of stuff with me when we went to Israel. Basically, anything you could possibly need: lots of sunscreen, anti-chafing stick, aloe vera gel, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap bar that I could also use to wash my clothes should I find the need to (and honestly, I really only needed to wash one thing), lotion, moisturizer, some random hair stuff that I didn’t even know how to use… you get the idea. a lot of stuff that I really could have done without.

I had a really hard time finding blogs when I was packing for my big trip because all of the ladies made room in their 3-1-1 (3.4oz of liquid, gel or paste in 1 (one) bottle, as many as you can fit into a 1 quart bag) bags for makeup. I wanted to know what other women like me brought with them, since they had the space to play with since they didn’t wear makeup. I fit A LOT more stuff into my 1 quart plastic bag, but I was going for two weeks, it makes sense that I would need a lot of toiletries- many of which, I used up completely and left the packaging behind (silly me, I could have reused them! Luckily I recycled as much as I possibly could) so that I could have more space in my suitcase coming back. I bought a lot of travel sized toiletries that weren’t what I normally used. But really, I just used sunscreen, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and lotion, how different can each of those be from brand to brand? Turns out, a lot. 

Since I got back, I’d pared down to just the essentials, my new hair regimen (in travel size- I just wanted to test it out first) my moisturizer decanted into an airless pump bottle rather than a twist off container, that way I don’t have to stick my fingers into the pot all the time, deodorant in a travel size, and a small bottle of lotion. I’ll be honest, I have one in my purse too, I carry a little pouch with me with all of my “just in case” items. I’ve managed to pare everything down into my small Tumi bag that I got for being so upset on the Delta flight. It’s one of those First Class amenities bags that they give out with all of these really cool things like wipes, eye masks, lotions and potions and all that good stuff (i still have some of it too, that stuff was awesome). The bag itself is about 6X4X3 inches big. So, compact. It is nice to have something so small though, it means that I never really have to worry about it not fitting into any bags that I may want to take with me.

Now, a year later, I’ve changed up my routines again. I travel with a lot more dry or non-liquid toiletries and what liquids I do travel with are decanted into very small containers that easily fit in less than a 3-1-1 bag. The only exception is my holy grail conditioner, the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle conditioning mask, which comes with me in a 2 oz Human Gear Go Toob. I’m not particularly picky about most other things, though I do have particular favorites that I will try to take with me if I can.

When I went to Israel, I had fallen out of love with makeup. In the year and change since, I’ve fallen back in love with it. and have taken at least something on most of the trips that I’ve taken. Below, I’ve listed what I’m taking.

Now, I’m always editing what I have in my travel bags, my toiletry bag is no exception. I go through toiletry bags like nobody’s business. I used to have this big clear plastic bag that somehow managed to count as fitting within the 3-1-1 rule. Maybe it really did, and maybe it didn’t and TSA just didn’t care enough that it was probably too big. Then I graduated to a much too small freebie bag from Sephora, that while cute, was too small and it was awkwardly shaped. They still have it available on their site for purchase. Unfortunately, I don’t think they have their buy 3 items get it free deal on their site anymore. It is great for an overnight bag or a bag to throw your bathing suit into.

So, in two weeks, when I go on my next trip, these are my toiletries:

The Balm In The Balm of Your Hands Vol. 1
Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Conditioning Treatment, decanted
Jamp hand Sanitizer
Alterna Caviar Anti- Aging Dry Shampoo
Sephora Smoothing and Brightening Concealer Pen in Light
Urban Decay Primer Potion foil sample packs
Tide To Go Pen
Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm
Jouer Conditioning Lip Treatment
Lush Godiva Shampoo Bar
Sephora pencil sharpener
Essence Kajal Pencil in 01 Black
Pacifica eyeliner pencil in Fringe
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
Maybelline Brow Drama Scultping Brow Mascara
Makeup brushes all from either E.L.F. or It Brushes for Ulta
Belif True Cream Aqua Bomb Moisturizer, decanted
Neutrogena Face Wash, decanted
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, decanted
Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Makeup Remover, decanted
Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2, decanted
E.L.F. Mist & Set and Brush Cleaner, decanted
Smashbox Photofinish Primer Water, decanted
2 travel packs of Cottonelle flushable cleansing wipes
Hada Labo Ultimate Anti-Aging Facial Mask
Erborian Bamboo Waterlock Mask, foil packet
SkinInc Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask, foil packet
Sephora Makeup Removing Towel
Benadryl and Ibuprofen
sunscreen- a freebie from an event this summer, no brand
single pack hand sanitizer wipe
eucalyptus oil nasal decongestant inhaler
travel hair brush
paper soap
tissue packs
cotton swabs
hair ties and bobby pins
lotion and breath drops, no specific preference
Toothbrush

Now before anyone asks, yes, I do use deodorant and toothpaste, but because Craig will have more space in his toiletry bag, since we’re using the shampoo bar and conditioner I’m bringing, he’s going to bring those in his 3-1-1 bag.
Whew! That certainly is a lot, but most of it isn’t liquids, it’s just my toiletries that I use either regularly or samples I’d like to try, since I tend to get a lot of makeup and toiletry samples. I’ll come back with a lot less since both eyeliners, mascara, tissues, wipes, concealer, sunscreen, samples, mask, and the lip treatment will be empty and in non-reusable containers. The lotion, moisturizer, tinted moisturizer, makeup remover, face wash, toner, Primer Water, setting spray and brush cleanser should also be empty and won’t count towards my liquids. and it does all fit in my toiletry bag.

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To Roll or Fold?

The question that people think is super important: Do I roll or fold my clothes when I’m packing? To be honest, it’s up to you how much you’re taking and if you’re okay with your clothes being a bit wrinkled.

I personally like both methods, and since I’ve started (and will never stop) using packing cubes, both options seem really great and have their merits.

I will NOT, however package or bundle my clothes as I like ease of access and I really don’t appreciate having to unfold my entire bundle just to get to “that dress that I felt like wearing today.”

I learned what I like and what I don’t like when I went away for a weekend in April. I tried a few different things, and that time, I settled for a compression bag. And, honestly? I think compression bags are best left for the return trip to throw your dirties into so that they’re COMPLETELY separate from your clean clothes. Alternatively, you can throw a large(ish) packing cube into your bag and use that for your dirties.

I always try packing my clothes both ways to see which works best for me. I find that if I fold all of my clothing that I’m taking with me into any packing cube and it isn’t completely stuffed, my clothes get so wrinkled, you’d think a cow chewed them. But if I roll my clothes, they fill up the space of my bag so my clothes wrinkle less. Of course, I also carry around a bit of insurance sometimes: Downey Wrinkle Releaser. It comes in a travel-size bottle, but I have this cute little spritzer bottle that came with some samples from Aveda that I decanted into (it’s about 0.34oz) so it works even better as insurance, since it’s small and you really don’t need a lot. Only one or two spritzes works for most of my clothes. You can also get some great small travel bottles from Daiso if you’re lucky enough to have one near you, or from Amazon.

So, in one trip, I might use both methods of packing based on my needs. I might roll the majority of my clothes and if I have spare room in a cube, I’ll fold and pack stuff on top. Or, I’ll pack all of my clothes folded neatly in two rows and fill the middle gap with small rolled things like bras, underwear, socks or leggings. Or I’ll take two cubes and roll everything in one because I only need 2 pairs of bottoms and 4 shirts and then I’ll fold all of my undergarments into the second one because I bring at least one more pair of socks and underwear than I think I’ll use. The only exception is that next month, when I go on a week-long trip, I’m going to try something new with my undergarments, I’ll take four pairs of underwear, and two pairs of socks and wash as I go, to see if the space saving is worth it for the lack of convenience.

Well, that’s all I have to say about that subject. Tl;dr rolling and folding have their place in my packing world.

*none of the links that I’ve used here are affiliate links.

The Luggage I Use

I’ve gone through a lot of luggage. It seems like every time I flew, I used a different piece of luggage each time. I’ve always done carry on only, because it’s so much cheaper, but I think that I have run the gamut of styles.

First there was the 2-wheeled black carry on rollaboard, not unlike this one. I have no idea where it came from, but I’ve had it forever. I’ve used it on a few trips. But I think it’s my dad’s. Craig currently borrows it when he flies. This used to come along with a giant purse or tote bag or backpack so that I would have stuff to do when I was on the flight.

Then, I moved on to a duffel bag. I’ve had lots of them. I’ve used this one, but mine is blue. I actually bought one for Craig first so he would have a place for his quidditch gear and I liked it so much, I got one for myself. He used mine on his last flight without me. (bonus that the zippers are huge and it packs down to nothing). I’ve also had one that was similar to this one , but I can’t seem to find the exact one I used. I got it at Marshall’s a million years ago that was once intended to be a nicely structured and protective bag for my dance gear.

For Israel, I went back to a suitcase AND a backpack…. I used a spinner from American Tourister that I found for a great price at Ross. It’s gone just on that trip because I hate spinners and I hated the size and I really hated the spinner aspect of that bag.

I did fly cross-country with one small diaper bag for a weekend last winter. It was the right size at the time, it fit my ipad, a small packing cube with some clothes, a toiletry bag, a pair of shoes and a small knitting project. I have no idea what brand it was, but it didn’t look like a diaper bag and unless you saw the tag inside, you’d never know. I don’t recommend it unless you’re not taking a very minimalist load.

The last few trips that I went on were relatively short and in the summer so I really didn’t need to use a lot of luggage and didn’t need a lot of clothes since everything is thinner and lighter so I just traveled with my now defunct, beloved Ikea backpack. It’s unfortunately not available on Ikea’s website anymore, so if you don’t have an Ikea near you, you’re kind of out of luck. Craig’s still got his Ikea backpack and it is still available on the website as well as in store. He loves it and uses it for work. The laptop sleeve fits his Macbook perfectly. I don’t have my Ikea backpack anymore. It’s lived a long life, and been stuffed to the brim enough times that all of the zipper pulls broke off and the main zipper compartment broke just about a month ago. I had to replace the backpack for school, but also for traveling as my very compact, very structured backpack was now gone.

Enter the Jansport Digital Student backpack. I got mine on sale at Shoebuy and got extra cashback through ebates (my personal referral code, I’ll get a bit of a bonus if you sign up through this link). I love this thing. It’s big. I’m not going to lie, it’s huge. It fits 34L of stuff, meant to hold tons of textbooks, a tablet, and a million other things. It even has a separate pocket for laptops, and yes, it does come with that sleeve. There are so many pockets that my packing cubes are almost obsolete. Almost. But I love them and they’re nicely protective of my clothes. The sleeve that comes with the bag doesn’t fit my Dell Precision M4600, but I suspect that it’s because off the thickness of the laptop. It has a disk drive. If you have a smaller laptop, especially one without a disk drive, your laptop will fit perfectly in the sleeve. My only complaint is that the sleeve has to stay in the compartment unless you’re putting a laptop or coloring book in that pocket or something because otherwise there’s not enough structure and the bag gets lumpy. I just throw my iPad in the sleeve when I take it to school and use the main compartment for my gym clothes (in their own packing cube), my gym toiletries, my pencil case and my lunch box. It’s lovely and between this bag and the Swissgear one I was considering, I much prefer this one, even though that one’s laptop sleeve is TSA friendly. I’d rather remove my tech completely than have an inferior backpack for all of my life’s needs. Most importantly though, this bag is going to last me forever, Jansport has an amazing warranty where they will repair or replace the bag free of charge if anything happens to it, and the fact that mine is all black means that I can use it for years to come. Now, it is a bulky looking bag since the main cavern (haha, it’s definitely not a compartment) has very little structure and the small compartment at the front weighs it down, but I can get away with clipping my travel belt to secure it and then I have a bonus belt that I can take when I just want my phone and travel wallet with me.

So there you have it, the evolution of my travel bags and luggage. I do travel with just one bag, and the more I can get away with throwing in the one bag the better. I’ve learned to pack much lighter and I think that really helps. I don’t think that you need a special backpacker’s backpack unless you want a smaller size for ultra minimalist travel or more structure or  a feature that is specific that you’re looking for, like hip straps.

*none of the links that I’ve used here are affiliate links, I just searched for the bags that most closely resembled the bags that I’ve used. The only affiliate or referral link is my ebates one. If you don’t want to use that please feel free to go to ebates.com to sign up. It’s the best site, it’s free and everywhere you shop through the links on their site, you will get a percentage back in cash every 3 months.

Picking back up after a long absence

I haven’t posted since the middle of my Israel trip, or was it after I got back? I don’t remember now. But I have got the travel bug again after spending so much time this summer going on short trips and now preparing for a week-long vacation in December, I want to talk again about traveling.

A lot has happened since Israel, I got rid of my suitcase (a spinner, and a gigantic one at that, I’m since “downgraded” to only what I can carry on my back in a traditional student backpack, not a travel pack). My old backpack from Ikea was lovely while it lasted, but it broke, so I replaced it with a Jansport Digital Student backpack. It’s 34L and can fit easily under the seat.

I’ve noticed that there are no blogs talking about using a student backpack for anything other than a daypack or as a carry on personal item, but they’re so great for carry on luggage! They’re comfortable and they make it almost impossible to over pack, since they’re smaller than most travel bags. They’re also much cheaper for just as good quality as a travel pack. If you go with a reputable company, like Jansport, you will also be under a lifetime warranty, as long as you have the pack, they will repair or replace the bag as needed.

I’ve also significantly upgraded and changed all of my packing cubes since then. I’ve tested out the cheapest of the cheap, from Ziplock bags to Daiso packing cubes and the mid-range Ikea and REI packing cubes. I have recently invested in some Eagle Creek compression cubes, the Pack-It system. They all had their ups and downs, and my collection has changed so much, I now only have one Daiso cube left that I use exclusively for the gym because if it’s breathable, but padded protection for my school things. I have three REI compression packing cubes and the two Pack-It cubes from Eagle Creek.

I didn’t abandon Daiso products for travel entirely though, a lot of my containers for my lotions and potions, as well as my toiletries bag come from Daiso. however, my toiletry bag isn’t. It’s a flat-opening paper folder that looks like it’s meant for a small notebook. I love that it opens flat, but can zip into a bag if I just want to stand it up somewhere, however it’s flat nature when it’s open makes it so much easier to fit ALL of my toiletries, instead of just my liquids (the amount of liquid I take for a week is smaller than a sandwich ziplock so I hate separating it all for fear I’ll try to jam more liquids than I will actually need in there).

Now, I don’t have pictures of everything… yet (and I won’t of the things that I got rid of, because, why? But I will be attempting to post about my upcoming trip, how I got ready for it, and what I’m packing. Those will definitely have pictures.

Hopefully, my packing style will help others who want to have just one bag for everything, since I hate clutter, and a suitcase that’s too big as a means of creating clutter.

What to Expect on a Birthright Trip From Someone Who’s Been On One

1. Don’t listen when they tell you how much stuff you need to pack. Seriously, 1/4 of the stuff is just there to take up space, and anything you need, you can always buy at the hotel or Kibbutz on your trip if you find you really need it. Pack light enough that you can carry on your suitcase, but if you buy anything extra, you can check it and feel secure that your suitcase won’t explode everywhere. (It was interesting to see all of these people with suitcases bigger than they were wandering around the area.)
   1. Sarah will be posting what she took with her in her suitcase eventually…
2. Don’t stress about plans changing. They will change. There is nothing you can do about it, especially sulk. It really is for your safety and you must understand that. While Israel is an incredibly safe place and there are bomb shelters everywhere, there are still places that Birthright will not let participants go. It’s beyond anyone but the higher ups control. Think of it as a view to the way of life for typical Israelis. They have to constantly change their plans to stay safe, you just get to experience it a few times.
3. If you hear a siren, don’t panic. Follow the instructions that you are given, and if you happen to not be with your guides, follow along with what the Israelis are doing. (we were extremely lucky that we didn’t hear any sirens and didn’t have to go into any bomb shelters, but we knew it was a real threat the entire time we were there. It was always at the back of our minds that we should be mindful if we hear a siren we need to pay attention to our surroundings and follow all instructions)
4. wear sunscreen, drink tons of water, and get a booney hat. They’re really nerdy looking, but you can get them wet and they’ll help keep you cool, plus the wide brim is great at keeping the sun out of your eyes and off of your neck. We brought stick sunscreen with us which was handy since it wasn’t a liquid and we weren’t putting scalding cream on our bodies in the Middle Eastern Summer.
5. back to packing: Israel really isn’t super formal, but at the same time, you don’t want to be wandering around wearing your Lakers Jersey, right? Pack presentable things, but things that you wouldn’t be upset over if you left behind. Things that maybe you’ve had for a long time that you’re just about ready to part ways with. It’ll save you even more luggage space and give you an excuse to buy more awesome things when you’re there or when you get back, but hopefully you’ll get awesome things while you’re there.
6. you’ll be on the bus a lot. a lot a lot. Make sure you get things that are entertaining even without the internet. Chances are, unless you get a data plan, the wifi will be spotty if it works at all and you won’t be able to have access to facebook. But really, you’re in Israel for ten days, stay off of facebook, unless it’s the best way to tell people back home that you’re okay. You will live, they will live without your awesome statuses for two weeks.
7. If you do have access to wifi, email your parents/family and coworkers. They’ll thank you for letting them know you’re okay, especially if there is a conflict breaking out. However, if you can’t, just remember that Birthright sends your parents emails just about every day letting them know what you’re up to and that you’re doing okay. That’s why they have you fill out the emergency contact information as well as information about your family. They want to keep everyone at home informed.
8. Lastly, have fun! There is literally no other obligation you have to yourself or to anyone else. They’ll give you this incredibly jam-packed itinerary that is constantly changing and you will go through it in a blur. You’ll come back and want to go to Israel again. You might want to make Aliyah just so that you can get more of a connection with the land of Israel. Their goal is to educate you about your heritage in a way that is meaningful to you. Make of it what you will.

Hopefully these little reminders are what you need to get you ready for your Birthright trip. You’re going to have an amazing time. Good Luck!

The Second Half of the Trip

Now that we’ve been back for a while (almost a month already?!), it has to be time to finish the narrative of our trip, don’t you think? Sorry in advance, it’s pretty long, so we split it up into a paragraph per day, rather than making it really long with proper paragraph structure.

On Sunday, we visited Mount Herzl, the military cemetery in Jerusalem. It was moving and educational. We learned a lot about our Mifgash (our new Israeli friends, but mifgash means “encounter” in English) as well, as they all had stories to tell about fallen friends and those they lost contact with. Then we went south to Yeruham, a developing town and had lunch with the “Culinary Queens” of the city. The food was amazing with Moroccan influences and was some of the most interesting food we ate. The lady whose house we ate at was an amazing and strong woman who has accomplished so much in her life, that knowing that she gives back and takes other families who are under-privileged on vacations is amazing and inspiring. Then we traveled the long way around (due to the conflict with Gaza) to get to our Bedouin Experience. We rode camels and donkeys into the sunset and it was super fun, even though it was super short. After our “gamal” trip (that’s Hebrew for camel!) we got ready for dinner. Everyone was dusty, hot and smelly, and we didn’t care. We were hungry! The dinner was amazing, and everything tasted like nothing we’d had before. Then we met one of the men who lives and works at the camp we stayed at and he showed us how to make Bedouin coffee and tea and how the Bedouin hospitality works. The last activity of the day was a night hike where we walked alone into the dessert around us and sat in quiet with our thoughts. We learned that the land that is now dessert used to be a thriving sea and you could still find mollusc shells around if you look. It was difficult to find them because it was dark, but you could tell the smooth, round shapes of the shells were different if you felt around. Sarah grabbed a ton of them and distributed them to some of the other ladies on the trip, but made sure to keep one for herself.

Monday was the Masada day. We hiked to the top of Masada to watch the sunrise with all of the other Birthright groups and then learned more about this incredible mountain fortress. Then there was the trek down. Sarah is afraid of heights, so that wasn’t a fun walk down for her, but Craig did a great job, and made it down with the majority of the group. There was a second, smaller hike at Ein Bokek right near the Dead Sea that Sarah didn’t participate in since she wasn’t feeling well, but Craig really enjoyed it. There was a stream to hike through and there was some shade, so it was an enjoyable walk. After this, the group made their way to the Dead Sea to float in this famous, salty body of water and a few people bought mud to cover themselves with! We had lunch with a small group at Cafe Cafe, a chain cafe with a selection of foods that were a mix of Middle Eastern and Western styles. Our last stop for the day was our accommodations at an artsy Kibbutz where there were amazing sculptures. We had a delicious dinner that was more Russian-style Israeli food (right up Sarah’s alley!) and had a relaxing night with the group, just spending time together and talking.

On Tuesday, we went to Jaffa where we had lunch. Then we drove to Tel Aviv where we stopped at Shuk HaCarmel where we said goodbye to our new Israeli friends (don’t worry, we keep in touch, thanks to Facebook). We walked around the port of Jaffa after tasting what many consider to be some of the best Hummus. Craig and I were the most excited that we were able to try hummus with sliced onions! It was delicious and filling and wonderful. Then we went to Tel Aviv where we got to wander around Shuk HaCarmel, one of the largest in the country. There were so many things to see and taste and we wish we could have stayed all day. But when we regrouped after about an hour and a half, we walked to Independence Hall and sat in the same room that David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel’s independence in 1948. It was such an uplifting experience.

We didn’t stay in Tel Aviv for long, though we thought that we would be coming back later that evening, though we were in for a surprise. There was a siren that went off soon after we left the city so we couldn’t go back because of rocket strikes. Our plans changed, like they often do in Israel (we were just lucky that it hadn’t happened so much before then).

Wednesday was our last day in Israel. We went to Caesar, an ancient roman port on the way to Haifa. Then we made it to Haifa, which wasn’t on our itinerary originally, to have lunch and to explore the Bahai Gardens. We ate at this interesting place called Fattoush, and they didn’t have any Fattoush on the menu! We did a lot of driving, but we also got to spend the night in a fancy hotel right across from the Mediterranean Sea. Of course we went swimming in it and the water was less salty than the Dead Sea, but still salty to the tongue, and warm, but not as warm as the Dead Sea. The water was calming, and relaxing, even though the beach was full of people! Then we all showered and had the best hotel food since we came to Israel, Mar Goa had delicious food for dinner. After we were all showered and packed, we spent our last night together watching soccer, drinking beer, wine and talking. We were up all night since we had to leave for Ben-Gurion Airport at two in the morning, we decided to spend all of our last hours together.

Shabbat weekend relaxation

On Friday morning, we got a chance to see the Western Wall. We both went right up to it, on our own separate sides (separated by men and women); Sarah put a note in the wall, and recited the Shma, and Craig got a chance to go into the temple. It was a very  humbling experience to be in such a historically, culturally, and religiously significant place.

For lunch, we got some amazing street food. The falafel was delicious, and the hummus was made right in front of us masebahe style (with a green sauce) as soon as we ordered it. They also had some very spicy sauce that we both loved. For dessert, Craig had ice cream, and Sarah had a paleta, a  Mexican fruit popsicle, which was better than ones they have in Mexico!

We then went back to the hotel to get ready and dressed up for a Shabbat dinner we were having with an orthodox family. After exploring the streets of Jerusalem near the Machne Yehuda, we arrived at the house and all sat down for dinner and lots of songs. The food was amazing, and it never stopped coming. They first passed around lots of homemade challah, as well as some great hummus, eggplant, and other dishes, including a spicy schug (lots of peppers and hot spices combined into a spread that we ate with nearly everything). They then served matzah ball soup with chicken, then braised beef and lentils with rice, and passion fruit sorbet with cookies for dessert.

They had two adorable kids, a six-year-old son, an eight-year-old daughter, and a two-year-old who slept downstairs the whole time we were there. The father was very energetic, and taught us some very lively songs that he had is sing over and over. They also gave us the recipes for nearly all the food they had prepared for us, some of which we will definitely try making at home (especially that schug). We had a great timeand it was nothing like we expected.

On Saturday we rested. Mostly. We spent the morning taking over the pool as a group. Nearly everyone who was on the trip with us went up to swim and play on the rooftop pool. Later in the day, we heard a short history lesson and an update on the current state of affairs in Israel. It was interesting because it felt very unbiased given the state of affairs and the trip we happen to be on.

When we were done, we went on a short walk to the Knesset building and the rose Garden. We learned about the government and then we had some delicious Israeli snacks: sundried tomatoes,  dates, rugelach, and talked about what the Shabbat dinner the previous night meant to us.

We had a very late dinner after a short havdallah with the group,  eating at an Israeli tappas bar called Yudela. It was loud, long, delicious and life-changing. Jerusalem after Shabbat is a popping place!