…so I arrived near to the hotel after 22 hours in transit, to find the street blocked off by a security detail. As I suspect would only happen in Israel, my driver and the security guys started screaming at each other. After a bit, i thanked them both,got out of the cab, rolled my luggage up the street, and checked in. I suspect they’re all screaming still.

My cigar and adult beverage and I are sliding under the radar — or maybe that’s the table we’re sliding under. Looking at the lights of the old city, and feeling luckier than I deserve.

The hotel is locked down tighter than my high school sweetheart after curfew (you kids can Google to find out what a curfew used to be). I guess the Prime Ministers of Italy, France and Germany are supposed to be here, too. I feel very safe.

Tough luck for them that I only brought enough cigars for me.

Off to Haifa at 7:30 tomorrow morningto meet with the Mayor, who occasionally slides into his screaming mimi personna. Will try to find some time to backfill what this story is really supposed to be about.