It is amazing that one gets such a feeling of normalcy in this country that is always at war. Here you'll see lovely gardens and a cat peacefully grooming itself in a rock niche in front of a neat home. However, in general, the country seems surprisingly relaxed under the pressure of endless confrontations. What has impressed me over the years is the feeling of normalcy one gets in this country that is always at war. Lovely gardens in front of trim homes, a cat peacefully licking itself in a rock niche in front of a neat home, people enjoying a coffee on a terrace, laughing and having fun together.
Students stroll on the street in serious discussion, or poking fun at one other.
In most places people seem to function with optimism that is astounding. Despite the continued threat of terrorism and war there always were masses of people at all the popular tourist spots. Searching for the unusual, I drove to Beersheba and all the way south to Eilat. Today this is a large beach and diving resort on the Gulf of Aqaba. We had not encountered any problems on the roads, but that changed when we turned east in the direction of the Mediterranean coast across the Sinai Desert.