Security Check Please!

Greetings, Brothers and Sisters -

Here's the next installment of Fr. Russell Martin's Pilgrimage Journal:

Days 2-3 of My Pilgrimage to Israel and GAFCON June 17-18, 2008:

6/17/08:

The dappled sunlight caressed my eyelids opening them to a bright New York skyline. After much needed night’s, well more like an early morning rest, I woke up said my morning devotions and then took a very refreshing shower. I felt so decadent as I looked at the clock and realized it was only 11:00 a.m. I took in a brief brunch while reading David Baldacci’s new book “The Whole Truth”, which is a wonderful fast paced, plot twisting and somewhat plausible political thriller. In fact, the book is somewhat scary in it’s assertions of just how one could use the Internet (the information super-highway) for a very nefarious and self-serving disinformation campaign.

After, my brunch I went up and packed for my return to most recent nemesis, JFK International Airport. I arrived in plenty of time via the hotel shuttle, which took me right to American Airlines Terminal. Since I now had an E-ticket, a gift of the silent, [having only said fewer than 50 words to me during the whole transaction,] yet competent AA Ticketing Agent, I did not have to stand in line very long at all. The E-ticket allowed me to use the automated/computer check-in stations at JFK. I was now off to run the TSA gauntlet—into the fray once more, so that I might get my provisions for the flight and find my gate.

My flight to Zurich was delayed, naturally. This is now par for the course. This time it was due to a faulty cabin thermostat, and then we had to top off the fuel. If this weren’t enough we had to then wait twice as long for the plane’s log book to be returned. The devil always gets you in the details. Upon takeoff, and once my evening devotions were said, I was out like a light as my body clock was very confused. 

6/18/08:

We left JFK around 6:35pm EST and arrived Zurich around 9:15 am the next morning. The airport and the surrounding area were absolutely beautiful. The skies were a gentle and clear baby blue; the clouds were luxuriant goose down and it was so marvelously green. If the airport was an example, then the Swiss’ reputation for both efficiency and cleanliness is very well deserved. They had escalators that moved at about 1/5 speed when not in use and as soon as you crossed their threshold they would speed up. What a way to save electricity! After a quick but lovely breakfast I made my way toward my terminal and first flight on El Al, the Israeli airline. On the way I had to pass through airport Security. Nothing to worry about since by now I had been through it half a dozen times. As I was getting in line I was shunted off with about a hundred others to go to a another area for faster processing; again, another sign of Swiss efficiency. We were then sent through the airline employee station. Only instead of it being a faster option for me, I had to have one of my bags repeatedly scanned, three times I think. Then I had to open it for then nice Swiss lady and put it in tray and have it all scanned again. Of course, I was in the one line where the woman helping me only spoke the most rudimentary of English, so we carried on in the timeless tradition of international sign language. Eventually we found that the offending object was my book weight that I use to keep hard backs open when reading. Once it was identified, I was set to go, except I had to repack first.

As I was nearing the gate, I heard a public address announcement reminding all El Al passengers that they would have to have additional screening by the Airline’s Security prior to being allowed to board the plane. After presenting my passport and being asked a whole series of security questions in a relentless staccato. Then the question of my “orphaned” checked bag came up (why was it with me etc.). To which I recounted my tale of lines and a unexpected night’s stay in New York and that the airline had never returned it to me. I was then informed that I would be required to have my carry one items search. So Benjamin returned my passport but held on to my boarding pass he then instructed me to wait until I was called. He continued by telling me to take my carry-on bags and be seated until I was called back up for my search. 

About 15-20 minutes late, a nice young man named Damien, also an Airline security agent ask me to follow him and bring my bags for their search. We went into a secured elevator and then down through several locked doors and all the while getting farther and farther from everyone else. I will confess I was a bit nervous and would have totally freaked out except that I had seen Damien checking in other passengers.  After being led out of the terminal and out near the tarmac, we skirted a portion of the building to arrive at baggage security area and reentered the terminal several levels and blocks from where we started. I was then ushered into a tiny room where once again I was asked to open my bags and then told to go get seated another anteroom while their team went through my bags. So I sat reading my book and waiting. Several times I was asked to come explain some item or another and then told to return to my seat in the other room. About 45 minutes later I was told everything was fine and that I should repack my bags and prepare to return to the terminal. All my stuff was haphazardly strewn over a large counter so I began to repack for the third time that day. I really did not mind them searching everything but I was a bit put off when they then told me to hurry and kept asking me to move things so they could use a part of the counter. I will confess that my thoughts were a bit less than charitable and inwardly I was thinking, “If you had not made such a mess of it, I would not be taking so long!” I simply smiled and nodded. It was as I was repacking there unsupervised that I noted, somewhat ironically, that they had left a box cutter strewn about on the counter well within reach and nearly mixed in with my things. My thoughts ran back to my days as a Probation Officer doing similar searches and the just how poor their security really was if they could not even bother to pick up their own knives. It is a good thing I am not a less scrupulous person. “C’est la vie”, as they say. Once repacked, I was lead back upstairs to wait for our final boarding of the plane.

We took off right on time, without any further delays. It was an interesting plane ride for two distinct reasons. First, it felt so incredibly foreign all the announcements were first done in Hebrew and then in English. It was also strange to see so many familiar things; fire extinguishers, exit signs, tray tables etc. all marked with foreign signs. They were all identical, including the size and shape of the signs except for the Hebrew text. Second, was I was served a wonderful kosher lunch, which even included a paper certificate attesting to the fact. It was quite tasty and very wholesome.

As we made our final approach I was taken with the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea and the Israeli coastline near Jaffa and Tel Aviv. Not only was it as beautiful as any beach in California and Florida, it so reminiscent of home. The climate and the landscape all looked remarkably similar. The Ben Gurion airport is stunning. It is absolutely beautiful. It has incredible artwork and several unique and beautiful fountains that are distinctive and a very subtlety integrated into the whole architecture of the building.

After passing through passport control, was able to change some dollars into New Israeli Shekels (NIS) and find my way from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in a shared taxi, called a “Nesher”. The drive was stunning and I was so moved by just how beautiful it was.

Once at my hotel I checked in and collapsed for some much needed sleep!