From: Things Don’t Always Go to Plan

Lost in the Old City

Flashback! This story goes way back to 1977 to the roots of my love of solo travel.

Early January 1977
Jerusalem, Israel

Tour busses, lines of tourists, one trinket shop after another. I was tired of it all! At the age of 23, I had signed up for this whirlwind escorted tour because of the great opportunity to visit the Holy Land accompanied by Ron Sumpter, my minister and friend who had been here many times. Our group had been in Israel for eight days and we had only two more to go. Yesterday we had visited the Old City of Jerusalem. I was enthralled — and frustrated! I wanted to take my time to wander the streets, savor the aromas — really get a feel for this foreign place. But it was not to be. “Tour 201 — boarding in 5 minutes.” Uggghhh!

Please….Not Another Day on the Bus!

The next day, we were to travel south of Jerusalem taking in Masada and other sites. I asked if we would get to swim in the Dead Sea — something I really wanted to do. No, there wouldn’t be time. RATS! That night, I brooded. But I never brood for long — I take action. I made my plans. I would just miss the bus. I told my roommate and friend, Ellen, that I wouldn’t go — I was sick of being herded in and out of that bus. Ellen always followed the rules. She was appalled, “You’re not going to the Old City? Ron specifically told us not to go out alone!”