It has been very hot and sunny in Tel Aviv. When we awaken around 7, the temperature is already in the mid-20s, and has been reaching the low 30s since we arrived. There is little humidity, thankfully, but the sunshine is intense.

I have never been a fan of beaches or of beach vacations, but today I finally understood why people flock to the beach in the heat. We walked along the shoreline this morning, and I could not believe how much cooler it felt along the water’s edge as compared to the intense heat on the pavement, or even on the beach further from the sea.

I will try and remember how much I complained about this heat and sunshine when I am in working in the arctic in the middle of cold, dark January, whining about the blizzards, windchill, and  -45 degrees temperature.