this morning, when i instinctively felt that the cover story of the travel section was about israel (based on a quick glance at the accompanying photo), i was filled with the automatic pride one feels for a place they once called home. i did not, however, expect to feel recurring surges of pride as i proceeded to read the article (which, by the way, is a stand-up example of good travel writing by henry alford.) i love this explanation of israel:
"this is a country that on the one hand is so conservative that we don't have public transportation on saturdays, but on the other hand is so open that we sent a transsexual to the eurovision song contest," says mr. keret. "israel is full of contradiction. in jerusalem, this contradiction means separation. but it doesn't in tel aviv."
the article goes on to live up to it's title, "seizing the day in tel aviv," by expounding on tel aviv's sensuality and vibrance. i liked this, as well:
"people always say, 'live every day as if it's your last,' and in tel aviv it might actually be true," says mr. keret. "the fear of the future makes the present more vibrant. but you cannot ignore that your existence is fragile."
the clincher for me, however, who was born in tel aviv, was this:
"most people don't realize that [tel aviv] is a city that many people just pass through. very few people are born and die here."
not to be a walking, israeli advertisement or anything, but...seriously, visit israel.
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