Heading home from the pre-trip

We're flying home today.  Actually left Israel yesterday and overnighted in Frankfurt, where we got to see cousin Peter Bodansky.  Our days in Israel last week were filled with apartment hunting, punctuated by visits to the lawyer, accountant, university, and Dan's main contacts at Ford in Israel.  But we were able to spend our evenings working the circuit of family and friends, having two dinners with Uncle Igor, two dinners with Kuki, Ohad and Benchik Shoham (and grandparents Tanya and Dano one of those nights), dinner with Tommy, Irit and kids, plus Dana and Ronin, and also a breakfast with Tami and Yishai (plus kids and grandpa Juri).  We didn't make it to everybody's place, so please don't be offended.  We'll be back in a month, and look forward to seeing everyone then!

Overall second impression (I was in Israel in 2006):  welcoming, chaotic, hot, dry, brown, vibrant, diverse, intense, delectible.  A challenging but rewarding place to call home for the next three years!