What happens when you take a stack of foreign agents assembled in Israel and surprise them with adventure after adventure?
Sonigo really does stack their agents. Notice the always popular Corrine Benhaim of Bailly International of Paris in the middle.
The answer is scattered over hundreds of kilometers of Israel – from the ancient port of Jaffa to a tent in the desert, through 2000 year old tunnels in the middle of the country to the magnificent Old City of Jerusalem.
Sonigo’s partners and colleagues came from as far away as St. Louis and New York and as close as France, Belgium and London. Certainly a learning experience –the opening tour showcased the ancient port of Jaffa – the biblical port of choice for pilgrims and cargo to Jerusalem.
A startled Herbert Lorenz (l.) of Unigroup in St. Louis emerges from an ancient tunnel. Philippe Marecaux (r.) of Meys and Zonnen in Antwerp, ever the gentlemen, escorts Helen Pertoldi of Abels of Cambridge while complaining his Blackberry was not working.
And certainly a challenging experience – everybody burrowed through underground escape and hiding tunnels dug some 2000 years ago by the Jews during their uprising against the Romans. Some of the passageways were no more than 40 centimeters which prove all movers are thin and svelte. (As a personal note – this adventure was your author’s idea after I enjoyed this 30 years ago – I remain amazed how much narrower the tunnels have become!)
Morgan Lott of Seegmuller in Paris insists it was the donkey and not him doing it.
Since all removal experts are involved with logistics and map reading, the group split into teams and were given donkeys to follow maps and a trail. While clearly designed to carry heavy loads, these donkeys carried lightweight and svelte (see above) removal experts. For a classic video of Sonigo’s own lightweight and svelte Joe Semel, please see YouTube under Sonigo, Joe Semel.
Sonigo’s typical uniformed crew en route to another satisfied customer (except for the guy with the socks….)
After a tough day on the trails of Israel and before retiring into the finest accommodations available in a desert tent …the adventuresome movers and shakers donned swimming suits, luxurious robes and relaxed in a natural hot spring where Blue Label flowed as freely as the hot springs.
A magnificent and exotic Swiss instrument – the hang drum provided more than just background music – it was almost trance like (or was it the Blue Lable?)!
Corinne Benhaim (l.) and Marianne Mischol of Packimpex in Switzerland practicing their amazing dance routine at the Dead Sea.
After traveling along the “Peace Border” with Jordan, the moving professionals donned their swimming suits for another dip – this time in the mineral rich, super salty – Dead Sea where one floats in the buoyant waters known for their healing and medicinal powers.
From the Dead Sea, the crew packed up and loaded the bus to travel to Jerusalem – a magical holy city with an atmosphere unlike any other. Sonigo’s adventure weekend came to a close with visits to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Western Wall.
Most certainly, these moving executives will take their rightful place as Ambassadors for Israel encouraging International Moving Organizations to consider Israel as a venue for conventions, meetings and seminars.
Where else can a mover – tunnel underground (talk about difficult access!), ride a donkey (the original shuttle service), read a paper while floating on the Dead Sea (no need for an external elevator), sleep in a desert tent (can a 40’ container travel on sand?), pray at the holiest sites to the three main religions and visit a 7000 year old Port?
Just wait for next year!
