Marilyn writes to her friend Evelyn Hannon (whom many of you know as Journey Woman, a regular contributor to Zoomer magazine, EverythingZoomer.com, and an acclaimed travel journalist), as the packing begins for this remarkable adventure.

Dear Evelyn,

All of your subscribers will remember the saga of your bag that went missing for six months, which determined me to fly to Israel this Sunday with only one piece of carry-on luggage (and an ENORMOUS purse!).

Of course, it’s summer, which did make the task somewhat easier. Still, until I actually packed I wasn’t 100% sure I could do it, but I did (pardon me while I take a moment to pat myself on the back…). I even managed to find enough room to include one of those terrific Fold-Up bags (which you can now find everywhere) to bring home the things I’m hoping to purchase in Israel. Yes, I know that I’ve primarily been asked to visit in order to cover the operas (La Traviata at Masada and Don Giovanni at Accre) being mounted there next week, but anyone who knows me can tell you that I’m a shopper. So, watch out, Israel, here I come! …Continue reading on everythingzoomer.com…