Here is a day-by-day account of the Dscoop trip to Israel. To start at the beginning of the trip and see everything we did, please scroll to the bottom.
Posted by Eric Hawkinson, Friday, June 8th, 2007
Technically, our last day in Israel began as part of an ending of the previous night. Ron Pergande from GPA was scheduled to leave early Friday morning (2:00 a.m.) in order to attend his brother's wedding. Rather than leave him all alone, a few brave soles ventured to the Mediterranean to hear Ron play us a couple of songs he had written for our trip. We all appreciated Ron's three-chord melodies and will look for him to headline Lollapalooza in 2008.
After the impromptu concert, we all woke up early for our last day of touring this wonderful country. We began by taking a trip 1,300 feet up to cliffs which housed the ancient fortress of Masada. Masada was built around 37 BC as a southern fortress against the Roman Empire. It became famous during the first Jewish-Roman War when a siege of Roman troops led to a Mass Suicide of Masada's Jewish warriors. The stance of the Jewish warriors in Masada has long reaching attributes. Even today, members of the Israeli military swear to an oath that reads, "Masada shall never fall again."
After being inspired by the creation of Masada, Jack enlisted several of us to actually walk down the mountain rather than taking the cable car. Jack, Joe, Moe, Laurence and I all accepted his challenge and walked down the 1,300 feet to the bottom of the cliff in 95 degree heat. While perhaps not the smartest of decisions, it was tremendously rewarding. The views were spectacular and it was the best workout we received all week.
As a reward for our hike, we ended our journey in the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on the face of the earth and home to the saltiest water on the planet. As a result, the it has a buoyancy that feels as if you are walking in zero gravity. It literally is impossible to sink, if anything you feel like a bobber on the end of a fishing line.
We closed our trip with a meal where we all sat together and shared stories and take-aways from our trip. Over the five days, there was a definite sense of camaraderie that had developed with all of the attendees. Cards were exchanged and Jack even volunteered to make a video that depicts all of the wonderful experiences that we have shared.
Upon returning to the hotel, we all said our goodbyes and looked forward to the time that we could see each other again. Luckily, the 2008 Dscoop Annual Conference is rapidly approaching (Feb 20-24) and I reminded everyone that I expect them to reconvene for a meeting of the minds. I sadly headed to the airport at 2:00 a.m. and was able to reminisce about our journey. This trip was flawless. Our hosts at HP Indigo set up an event that is unrivaled by anyone's standards. I wanted to say "Thank You" to everyone involved. Collectively we made this a historic trip, and I can't wait to begin planning the second Dscoop trip to Israel soon.
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Posted by Eric Hawkinson, Thursday, June 7th, 2007
The days keep getting better and better. We were so excited for today's trip that everyone agreed to wake up an hour and a half earlier to cram more into our packed day. The day began at the HP Indigo ElectroInk plant in Kiryat Gat. You might think that you know everything about ink; however, this trip would make you open your eyes and see the entire picture. At the plant, we were guided by Arik Kochanovski who walked us through the creation, mixing, bottling and packaging of the ink that we all use everyday. All in all, it was a very eye-opening experience.
After the ElectroInk Plant, we were on our way to the Holy City of Jerusalem. It's hard to put into words the experience of visiting Jerusalem. The sights and smells of Jerusalem are like nothing many of us have ever seen before. During our day long tour we were able to view some of the most incredible places on Earth including the Wailing Wall, the Dome of the Rock and the Via Dolorosa (The Stations of the Cross). Regardless of your religious beliefs, the city is an awe-inspiring location that words cannot describe. I will let these pictures speak for themselves.
We conclude our trip tomorrow with a tour of Masada and the Dead Sea. Like I said at the beginning, each day gets better and more incredible. And while many will say this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I have to tell you, it is a multiple-time in a lifetime experience. One trip simply isn't enough. The country in a word is breathtaking.
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Posted by Eric Hawkinson, Wednesday, June 6th, 2007
After another fulfilling breakfast we left the hotel to begin with a customer visit. The customer that we visited was Oniya Shapira, one of the largest digital print sites in the world. Upon our arrival we met with Ravit Spiegel, Vice President of Marketing. Ravit took us on a tour of the facility that features six Indigos. Following the tour, we had the opportunity to learn more about one another's business model while sharing best practices.
We left Onya Shapira back on our way to the HP Indigo site at Rehovot. At the facility we sat down and prepared for a day dedicated to education. Our first presentation was made by Matthew Lightstone, who elegantly discussed market trends in digital printing and how they relate specifically to the HP Indigo. Following Matthew, we were fortunate to hear from Yoram Krivine who gave an excellent presentation on lean manufacturing. Dscoop Members Doyle Mortimer and Dave Pruss shared recent results produced by lean consultants for their companies.
Following lunch, we were able to get a high-level overview of the future of color from Eyal Shelef and the burgeoning trend of photo opportunities with the Indigo Press by Keren Zemer. Both were extremely informative and they served as an excellent pre-cursor to Shane Robinson, the Chief Strategy and Technology Officer from HP. Shane reviewed HP's overall market strategy and technology platform and how it relates to the Digital Print Marketplace.
The last session of the day was conducted by Alon and David. It was designed to get feedback and suggestions for the direction of HP Indigo Management. Once again, everyone appreciated having unfettered access to HP Management and the ability to assist in the guidance of the product.
Today was another incredible day of sessions and we all relished the take-aways. Dinner to night was to be held along the Mediterranean at Sakaya. As we walked from the hotel we noticed the location in the distance. How could we miss it, take a look:
The event at Sakaya was wonderful because we were able to mix, mingle and dance. Doyle and Kitty Mortimer took full advantage of the opportunity.
As many of you know, we have been planning the Dscoop trip to Israel for over 18 months. We would be remiss if we didn't acknowledge two people at HP Indigo who were instrumental in making it happen. We are all extremely thankful to have Ronit Gumer and Dana Vianu on our side, the trip simply wouldn't have happened without their industrious dedication.
Tomorow we visit the ElektroInk plant at Kiryat Gat and then tour in Jerusalem. Check back tomorrow for the update.
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Posted by Eric Hawkinson, Tuesday, June 5th, 2007
We began this morning by feasting on some brain food at the breakfast buffet in preparation for a full day of educational sessions at the HP Indigo Plant in Rehovot. Rehovot is roughly a 40-minute drive to the southeast of Tel Aviv.
We were greeted by our hosts and seated in our classroom. Alon quickly grabbed our attention and started a presentation that discussed an overview of the Country of Israel and the direction that Israel is heading in the future. More importantly, he discussed the digital print business and how HP Indigo fits in to the digital marketplace.
Following Alon's presentation he introduced Benny Landa, founder of Indigo and Strategic Advisor to the HP CEO. As our key note speaker and the Father of Digital Printing - this was a real treat. Benny reviewed the entire history of Indigo from it's inception in 1977 to joining forces with HP. At the heart of his desire was to marry the beauty, efficiency and speed of traditional ink printers with digitization. In many ways, Benny put together all of the pieces on an industry and is moving at the speed of sound.
Next we began a half day tour of the remarkable HP Indigo site. We saw the stations where the Indigo 5000 and 5500 are built. We were also able to review a demonstration on the HP Indigo UV Coater and the cutting edge advanced technologies lab.
After our tour we needed to head back to Tel Aviv to prepare for dinner. Dinner tonight was in a beautiful location, right along the harbor in Tel Aviv. We were lucky to get to the harbor right in time for a glorious sunset.
Dinner tonight was once again incredible. We were able to choose from an assortment of fresh fish and delicacies that was new to many of us. As always, the food was delicious but getting to know everyone was just as important.
In what has become a Dscoop tradition, even though it was 10:00 p.m., we still needed to check out the Tel Aviv nightlife. We walked along the harbour boardwalk and were able to have some libations in the VIP section of the GoGo Beach bar. While we stayed out too late, the location and fun that we had will last a lifetime.
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Posted by Eric Hawkinson, Monday, June 4th, 2007
After a great night’s sleep (albeit brief), we started today with a luxurious buffet in the hotel. The buffet had an assortment of exotic fruits, fish and freshly squeezed juices. It was a perfect start to what would amount to an unbelievable day of sight seeing. After breakfast, we met our trusty guide Jacob at the bus and headed North to Nazareth, Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee.
The drive north was about 2.5 hours, so the need to stop for a break was imminent. Plus, what trip out of the country wouldn’t be complete without stopping at America’s favorite restaurant – McDonald’s?
Our first stop was in Nazareth. Nazareth is one of the largest Arab cities in Israel. The street markets and open air fruit stands lend an old school Middle Eastern charm to the area.
Our first stop in Nazareth was the Basilica of the Annunciation where according to Christian interpretation the archangel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary and informed her that she would have a son named Immanuel. The church is built directly on top of the intact Grotto where Gabriel appeared to Mary. During our visit we were fortunate to witness an actual Catholic mass being held in the Grotto.
What is unique about this church is that there are two levels. The first level is the aforementioned grotto and the second level is essentially a second floor which features a traditional Catholic church where masses are held daily. When this church was built, the Catholic faith asked for each country to send in a mural that depicts the meeting between Gabriel and Mary. The mural from Japan (pictured below) is constructed entirely out of pearls and incredibly beautiful.
Afterward we walked steps to St. Joseph’s Church where it is believed that Jesus’ father Joseph lived and worked. Similar to the Church of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s church was built above the actual work place.
After we left Nazareth we traveled north. As a special stop over, we stopped in Cana at the site where Jesus performed his first miracle – turning water into wine. We searched to find GPA’s Ron Pergande some authentic wine to bring to his brother’s wedding at the end of the week. Our guide found us the right place and many of us took the opportunity to bring back a special part of this sacred place.
Next on our journey we went to Tabgha the site of the Church if the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes. This church was built in 1982 on the site where they had uncovered ancient Christian mosaics that reference the story of Jesus taking two fish and five loaves of bread and turning them into a meal that fed 5,000.
From Tabgha, we took a short trip to Capernaum where Jesus worked and preached. While living in Capernaum Jesus encountered Simon and Andrew, then James and John. They all worked as fisherman on the Sea of Galilee while preaching in an around the area. The picture below is that of the home of St. Peter. An octagonal church was created to easily view the former dwelling.
The last location that we viewed was the synagogue of Capernaum. From looking at the building you can tell that there were actually two separate synagogues; however one was built on top of the other. Over centuries, the old synagogue deteriorated and rather than building in another location the Hebrews built a second synagogue directly on top of the original. They can be distinguished by the two separate rock types, lava rock and sandstone. It is widely accepted that Jesus actually preached in this synagogue.
After a brilliant morning of tours we all were tired and hungry, but before we drove back to Tel Aviv we stopped at Tamah Beach for bite to eat. As an appetizer, our hosts brought us an assortment of Mediterranean delicacies including pitas and humus. They were serving the catch of the day – St. Peter’s Fish (aka talapia). Before we could eat, we all thought it would be best if we could take our water bottles and collect some of the water from the Sea of Galilee. We all tried, but nary a one of us was able to walk on water. In the process, we made time for a great photo opportunity commemorating our trip:
After sleeping on the ride back to Tel Aviv we all set out to take a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean Sea. The sea is majestic to say the least.
While we were out exploring the Northern part of Israel, the rest of the Dscoop party was arriving in Tel Aviv in preparation for a walking tour of Jaffa – Israel’s oldest city. Finally all together, we embarked on our last tour of the evening through the historic streets of Jaffa. The sunset alone was worth making the trip from Chicago. Simply breathtaking.
We concluded the night at House #3 for an astonishing meal with our hosts from HP. House #3 was an enchanted home that was located in the heart of Jaffa. The menu was prepared by Hamoudi can be described as gourmet Mediterranean and capped off another wonderful day in Israel.
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Posted by Eric Hawkinson, Sunday, June 3rd, 2007
I knew it was going to be a good day when I boarded a Lufthansa flight on time from Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Thankfully, we left on time and arrived in Frankfurt, Germany with enough time to enjoy an authentic German Pretzel and a Coca-Cola Light (Diet Coke). It was in Germany where I met the Mother of Dscoop, Leta Wood of HP. Together we embarked on our last flight today from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv. We are going together as part of the first ever Dscoop Trip to Israel. The trip will be a collection of Dscoop members and partners and will likely be a trip we will not soon forget. Our counterparts at HP have prepared a wonderful itinerary that is full of educational material as well as some excellent tours within one of the the most amazing countries in the world.
After passing picking up our luggage, HP representatives picked us up and drove us to the David InterContinental Hotel. The Hotel is located right on the Mediterranean Sea in a scene right out of a movie.
After a quick shower, we met up with the rest of the group that arrived including our Dscoop Chairman, Jack Glacken. Together we set out on a tour of Neve Tsedek. Neve Tzedek is one of the earliest Jewish villages established in Tel Aviv and is quickly becoming the SoHo of Tel Aviv. We had a great tour guide named Jacob who was able to provide interesting insight into local culture, current politics and even the exorbotent price of home values. Following our brief tour, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at NaNa.
Of course it wouldn't be a Dscoop event without a closing drink at the hotel bar. Luckily, our hotel has a great cigar bar where many of us chose to wind down after a long day of travel. Tomorrow brings a full day trip to the northern part of Israel where we will visit Nazareth the Sea of Galilee among other places. Check back tomorrow for the next update.
