On the Mediteranean, TelAviv afternoon

My flight from Amman was nearly an hour late, making the journey of perhaps 200 miles take more than 6 hours. but driving is not an option,as crossing the border into Israel can take hours itself.
Waiting for the flight, I began chatting with a youngish man from Boston and Delhi who travels nearly nonstop for his company. He produces programs for the airline industry that a supposed to enhance the customer,s experience. Like automatic upgrades for certain airlines, he mentioned SAS,one of my favorites. He had been on the go for nearly six weeks, usually only a day or two per country, from Mexico to Moscow in one case!
We eventually boarded,and I found myself across the aisle from an interesting looking older man wearing an orange linen shirt over a tee shirt with shirts and flop flops. He had very expressive eyes, and I had noticed him in the departure lounge. I removed my iiPad from my carryon, Intending to read “A Passage to India” which I had just purchased,from iTunes, while waiting for my flight in the Amman airport. Something about my travels had reawakened my interest in this classic novel of colonial life in India, perhaps the recognition of the power wielded by the Europeans in shaping the current configuration of the middle east, and the consequent political turmoil.
Then,the man with the interesting eyes noticed my device and asked a question about what it does. I explained a bit and handed it to him. Our conversation proceeded and I found out that he is an Israeli film director who lives in southern India.he was very tired having flown from Chenai to Calcutta to Amman, and now on to Tel Aviv. He said that he comes to Israel for 2-3months when he comes, to visit those of his children who still live here. I asked him if I might have seen any of his films, and he mentioned one whose title translated to ” Hot Wind”,I will look for it when I get home.
We landed, I followed the signs to “Immigration”, and ended up choosing the absolute slowest line! I stood there inching along slowly, for nearly an hour.
Once back at my same small hotel near the beach, I walked my way back to the same cafe where I had enjoyed the scene a couple of weeks ago.
Tel Aviv may not have the historic charm of Aleppo, but it has a glorious waterfront promenade full of people even on a Monday afternoon. I enjoyed a chicken salad, not especially good, and a beer while reading and eavesdropping, more or less, on various conversations in a variety of languages. Right now, there are four Frenchmen playing cards at the next table. Children are running all over, with some dogs, and adults in varying dress fro skimpy bathing suits to track suits strolling the sand at the edge of the sea.
Not a bad ending to my middle east exploration. My flight to Frankfurt leaves at 5 am tomorrow,which requires me to be leaving the hotel at 1:45 am, not much of a night.I figure I’ll go for dinner around 8, come back to lie down for a while, shower,re- dress, and I’m off!
Karen

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