THE RAIN HAS ARRIVED!!!

YES, THE RAIN HAS FINALLY ARRIVED .....

We were starting to wonder whether it does ever really rain in Israel with the same blue skies appearing every day since we had arrived.  On Sunday, when we were at the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve climbing through the rocks, the rain decided to arrive.

It's hysterical...there are no gutters and an occasional drain, which is always dramatically overflowing as it cannot handle the volume of water.

Steps become like waterfalls when it rains but there's not a Wellington boot in sight.
Why would there be when rain is such a rare occurence?

 

This road is just around the corner from us and, within minutes of raining, was flooded.

Jaffa beachside cafe in the rain - important note - do not go for a swim for a couple of days after it rains!

I have joined my Scottish friend, Ali, and a group of wonderful Israeli women in doing Capoeira, which is a Brazilian martial arts that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music.  It's fabulous - I love the combination of music, rhythm (although I often feel quite uncoordinated being so new to it) and fitness.  I could hardly walk for two days after my first class.  Anyway, during the class last night, Ali declares, "How is it possible that you Israelis can intercept any bomb or missile but you can't handle the rain?"  It's true!  Everyone has gone crazy in the rain.  The traffic is horrendous and there's flooding everywhere.  The kids came home with shoes completely drenched and telling us of how the school children all start screaming hysterically when it rains.  It's so funny.

It is quite charming how defensive the Israelis are about any perceived criticism.  I noted to one man my observation that there are so few drains and no gutters.  He quickly retorted, "We are only 60 years old.  Give us time!"  When you consider what this nation has achieved in such a short space of time, given the arid land that it occupies and comparing it to its neighbours, it's bloody impressive.

Fortunately, the rain doesn't last for long....so it will be back to blue skies for our trip to Jordan on Saturday.