Everyone is asking so I will share my experience. Had just finished my annual Camino de Santiago hike in Spain (this year 165 km English Camino and Finisterre) , and was on the plane back from Madrid. An hour before landing we are informed we are being re-routed to Athens. Upon landing everyone opens their phones and the whole plane bursts into conversation. Israel has launched operation Rising Lion against Iran.

First thoughts are obviously self-centered. Why could they have not waited 90 more minutes. I have five kilos of really good cheese from the Santiago de Compostella market. More importantly a busy week including giving a talk at Rifka Lebowitz CFP® ‘s financial planning conference Sunday. Had the PM known this, perhaps he would have accommodated ?

We wait on the plane for a couple of hours. I inform family. Everyone is safe. First instruction from the captain is that we are going back to Madrid. Sighs of disappointment. Shortly after we are told that we can stay in Athens, every person for him/herself and to keep receipts. Cheers break out.

My next thought is to find a hotel with a business center and a fridge in the room to store the cheese. Wyndham Grand (excellent hotel, fabulous staff, lousy but central area).

The next few days are frustrating. The minister of tourism tells the 100,000 Israelis en route home to just “enjoy ourselves” , but this is hard. Am not in the mood to be a tourist.

The Israelis find each other at breakfast and join tables. Nice and interesting people. Some have young kids back home. I feel for them.

Phone numbers are exchanged and WhatsApp groups are opened (“Israelis in Athens” רוצים הביתה״ ,”, and so on ).

The skies are closed and the only way to get home at first is by boat from Larnaka to Ashdod with Jacky (who is not answering his phone, and we are not sure if he really exists).

One can write a standup routine on the things written in the whatsapp groups, which include, how to get back to Israel, how to avoid Palestinian demonstrations, restaurant recommendations and reviews, and questions regarding whether Jacky is real and where is the restaurant where one can break plates.

I remain calm. Fortunately i have a lot of work to catch up on and some in-person meetings are moved to zoom. Always felt assured that El Al would provide a return solution as soon as possible. They stay in touch with honest and appropriate communication. We don’t know whether it would be days or weeks. If the latter then i consider flying to Cape Town via Addis Ababa, to celebrate my “40th” next month with my Dad and sisters. I also assume that because we were the first flight diverted, there is a good chance that i will be amongst first to get a flight back.

Monday we get a registration form from El Al, the site is overwhelmed but I manage to register. No further action needed and they will inform us once a flight is available. And indeed Tuesday evening around 10 pm, i get confirmation of early Wednesday morning flight. Feel very emotional. Get congratulated by my new friends at the hotel. I cannot sleep have to be up at 4 am. So i do some work, pack, get a refund from hotel for days not used (they were fabulous in their understanding), and take a cab to the airport.

We board more or less on time, but then sit on the runway for two hours as we await the go ahead from Israel to take off. Once again feelings of frustration, but people are in good spirit.  Everyone is checking ynet and whatsapp groups, which tell us that the previous scheduled flight has taken off, so all now feel confident that we will too. And this does happen 25 minutes later.

Huge applause upon landing. We get our luggage within 20 minutes and then a free train ticket, and i am home in less than two hours.

Credit to El Al – i never doubted that they would not leave me behind.  One person who was with me on the Madrid flight, was less patient and went to Larnaka on the promise he would get a boat back home. Turned out to be a scam.

Despite the threat of continued hostilities it is good to be home. And once we have the all clear, we will enjoy great cheese and wine ! Thanks to everyone who reached out and be safe!

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