Final days of tour

Tuesday, August 11th
Casey, Jesse, Rex and I visited the City of David. We walked through Hezekiah's Tunnel and watched a 3-D movie on the city's history (David and his army took it from the Jebusites! Poor Jebus)

Wednesday, August 12th
We drove about twenty minutes outside of Tel Aviv to sing at a acoustically-masterful concert hall. Afterwards, our host took us to a relatively exclusive night club on the beach in Tel Aviv.

Thursday, August 13th
We rode in a van from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Twenty minutes or so after we arrived, we took a guided walking tour led by two certified tour guides from the local Rotary Club. We visited the Western Wall, the path Jesus took as he carried the cross, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and other famous sites.

That night, we sang to a sold-out crowd of over five hundred at what must be the finest YMCA in the world.

Friday, August 14th
In the morning, we drove outside the city to tour Masada. Later, we swam in the Dead Sea.

When we returned to Tel Aviv that night, we celebrated our last day of tour at a classy restaurant.

Saturday, August 15th
After a couple hours of sleep, we flew from Tel Aviv to Kiev to New York City. Most of us drove to New Haven to spend the night. Missing Middle Eastern food already, I ate at Mamoun's.

Sunday, August 16th
Continuing at a breakneck pace, we drove to Blue Hill, Maine, that afternoon. There, we performed at the First Congregational Church. Henry Becton, the oldest living Whiffenpoof, hosted us.

Some of us were fortunate to stay at the Becton's compound, which sat right on a lake and included both a pool and a pool house. After the show, Casey, Drew, Jay, Jesse and I sat poolside and stared at the perfectly clear midnight sky.

Monday, August 17th
After a delicious brunch provided by Becton's family, we drove from Blue Hill to Hyannis. There, we took a ferry to Nantucket Island. When we arrived, we sang a few songs for a Whiffenpoof centennial celebration which featured about fifty Whiff alums and their families.

Tuesday, August 18th
We spent the day relaxing at the house we rented. In the early evening, we sang at a Unitarian church.

Wednesday, August 19th
We said farewell to one vacation haven and hello to another. We made our way to a small summer getaway town in Rhode Island. Felicia R., Yale grad and native Rhode Islander, hung out with us at our own cookout and at a clam bake on the beach.

Thursday, August 20th
The Wheeler family, who also hosted us in Cambridge during The Game, took us to the local beach. They also helped arrange our concert at their country club that evening.

Friday, August 21st
In the morning, we drove to New London, Connecticut, to take a ferry to Southampton, New York. We sang at Trevor K.'s family's country club. At night, we partied on the beach.

Saturday, August 22nd
Before driving out to a Long Island country club for our final concert of the year, the five Whiffendoox visited the current Duke's Men group in Sag Harbor as they prepared for freshman rush. Full circle ( :

Second and fifth pictures -- from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Third and fourth: Masada
Sixth: The sixth place Jesus stopped on his way to Calvary
Final: In front of the Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock