IL PDML 2005
This year we've been honored by presense of five "Nutty Norwegians" a.k.a. Oksnes. As a matter of fact, they are not nutty, but rather a very pleasant bunch. Back in August 2004 we spent two weeks in Oslo after Jostein invited us to come visit them earlier in 2004. Admittedly that was one of the most pleasant vacations we ever had, not to mention that it was the very first time we took our daughter Galia with us. Naturally, we invited them to visit our modest place :). After some convincing and just a bit of bugging on my side, Vera and Jostein decided they would come. They made a huge mistake and came just for one week. But they already admit that they were mistaken :).
One of the things I actually forgot in my planning was Metsada fortress in the Judean desert just by the Dead Sea. As a matter of fact, I forgot it twice and we skipped it accidentaly on the first day of the trip. But then again, we managed to get as south as Mitzpe Ramon. For those who want to know precisely where all these places are I suggest you take a long look at the map.
So imagine my amazement when all five of them almost jumped into the Dead Sea waters just after we parked the car.
The next day we decided we need to let the kids rest. You can see on the map that drive to the Dead Sea and then to Mitzpe Ramon and then back to Rehovot is rather tiresome...
So we went to Ramat Gan Safari. There I learned that even Pentax SMC FA 400/5.6 even on *istD may be not long enough.
Here are Oksne "Hobbits" having fun with one of the Zoo drinking fountains...
On the following day I had to stay real close to my parents who also live in Rehovot. The closest thing I could think of was Mini Israel Park. I am silently skipping the part where we went to the local Honey Shop... :)
As you can see, Jostein can easily compete with some very prominent Tel Avivian skyscrapers.
Naturally, if one comes to the Holy Land, one goes to the Holy City. Oksne boys decided they needed just a bit of laying down before we ventured into the long walk across and around the Old City of Jerusalem.
There is very minor mistake in Jostein report about the trip. The fifth day of the vacation was actually dedicated to Haifa. By the way, Haifa is the city I love most in Israel. But that's totally different story, that you can hear from me only in person (catch my drift, don't ya? :) ). Caesaria was one major stop we had on the way.
Most of our lives is matter of perspective. So here is Jostein on the cliff having a good time. Behind him is Haifa University main building which is rather big I might add.
The next shot is actually just a bit cheating. We went to the Mediterranean Sea twice. Once we did it on the second day, and the other time was on the last day. I messed the setup of my *istD, so I present you with the shot I made on the second day. Jostein's words were "I cannot enter the water like this... I must take the shoes off..." So he did... So he did...
All in all, it was a week of pure fun for me. Oksnes are amazing people. They came, they went... When we returned from the airport all feeling gloomy, we found that ninety five percent of the semblance of order we could manage before their arrival was still there... Amazing, don't you think.
Last but not least. My special thanks go to JCO who enabled me with Sigma 18/3.5 lens which I received just two days prior to this wonderful week. Most of the shots throughout the trip were made with this lens.
PDML definitely rules.