A Watermelon Disguised as a Trapeze Artist

But then aren't they all?

Today I find myself eagerly anticipating my departure of Eilat. Yes, kiddies, I am heading up North to Haifa at 2.30pm. I love roadtrips, and also will have no choice but to rest my foot (so far, I haven't had the willpower to do so completely) for about 6 hours.

So far of the people I've met, when they ask where I'm from 'London', they ask 'Are you Jewish?' as to why I've come to Israel, 'No', then inevitably 'Are you crazy?'. The two Israeli girls in my dorm this morning were asking why I came here and alone, saying 'You've gotta have guts to travel here alone'. Of course I just avoided reply to this comment with a dismissive wave of the hand, trying to rather modestly hide my rather pleased face.. he he... HO.

Although the Red Sea and surrounding landscape is indeed beautiful, it is very much tainted by the digusting tack that is Eilat. I'm glad I came here, out of curiousity alone (and the fact I had an awesome roadtrip here), but I'm not sorry to be leaving. Sorry not to have scuba dived or swam, however, my foot wouldn't really permit me doing anything too strenuous - barely walking, but I made myself, because if I hadn't, I would have been confined to the garish delights of the North Beach. As it was, I managed to drag myself along to the Observatory and also to have a glass bottom boat ride the other day. I also wanted to hire a speed boat for an hour, but the weather has been overcast since I discovered you could rent speedboats, so I didn't bother. If I return I will definitely have to do that.

One of the most irritating things about Eilat has got to be the taxidrivers. They constantly hound you! If they see someone walking along the roadside they beep them, and then pull up to where they are, trying to lure them into the cab. They often argue with you 'Why you not want cab?' 'Cos I want to walk. I have legs. Leave me alone'. Honestly. I've lost my temper a couple of times - it is CONSTANT HOUNDING, I tell you! Really really annoying. They find it hard to take NO as an answer.

Other than that, I have met a variety of characters here, eaten out more than I should (yeah, and I've felt guilty about it, but they don't have markets here, so there isn't many other options), drunk a lot of delicious fresh fruit smoothies, and got what British people would call a tan. Personally I look half pasty, and half boiled Lobster, but what ho! I have discovered once again that life is unfair; sharing dorms with perfect-bodied (I am not exaggerating!) Israeli girls, mincing around in their little hot pants and bikini tops, showing off their beautiful olive skin, trying to take the look of hate from my eyes, after I compare it to my flabby and pasty British (sorry - I love the British, but it's true) body squeezed into some unflattering cropped trousers, and shapeless tee-shirt. Damn it! Makes me feel so sad, I simply drown my sorrows in a cappuccino.. ice cream.

(maybe they have perfect bodies because they have better willpower when it comes to junk food than I??!? Hmmm.... Nah)

So, with the credit ticking away on this PC, I'd better sign off. The girls in my dorm today didn't have anything really positive to say about Haifa, but erm... hopefully it'll be ok. If not, I'll head elsewhere. I'm really frustrated by my foot. If it weren't for my foot, I'd be hiking around exploring. As it is, I've been doing a whole lot of reading.

Oh well. C'est la vie.

Keep your fingers crossed for a recovery!

Tally ho, folks!