My business experience in Israel has taken me to varying world locales; in the last few years, I have been to France, Spain, Brazil, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Each time, upon my return, I regale my family with stories of the various cities and personalities that I have met.
In truth, for all of my traveling, I rarely get out to "see the sites". I prefer to leave touring experiences to others, or to a time when I can travel together with my wife and share the experience. Indeed, when traveling alone, the touring that I do engage in is generally that of walking the streets of my host city in order to get a better knowledge of my surroundings.
Upon my return from trips to Paris, many family friends who had previously visited the "City of Lights" (I guess that presupposes the great U.S. Blackout), asked me if I enjoyed the beautiful views and the magnificent architecture of the great French metropolis. To their chagrin, I responded that I had not and that, in fact, I thought the city was one of the most filthy and disgusting that I had ever seen.
"But what of the Louvre?" some queried.
"And the Champs Elysee?" asked others.
(Ever notice that nothing the French build is ever pronounced the way it's spelled?)
And then, it dawns on me. The difference between others who visit Paris and me is that I have clean shoes.
Prior to my trip, I noted that Paris is known for its overwhelming population of canines and quickly surmised that the little (and sometimes big) critters have a tendency to leave little gifts all over the sidewalks and pedestrian paths of Paris. Not wishing to overstep my bounds (so to speak), I chose to navigate the sidewalks of Paris by looking down at the ground. In so doing, I dutifully avoided soiling my footwear, while simultaneously getting a rather poor impression of the grandiose views.
Everyone else? They probably travel with a spare pair of loafers.
Which, in a roundabout way (mostly, because I have recently been informed that verbosity is a virtue in "opinion pieces"), sort of mirrors a world-view.
In the aftermath of last Tuesday's horrifying bombing in Jerusalem, the U.S. State Department spokesperson - as well as those in Israel who worship the new deity known as "RoadMap" - stated that while the heinous act perpetrated was despicable, the Israelis must "look the way forward" and "push on" with the peace process.
"Looking the way forward", as I have previously illustrated, may have some wonderful merits - you can see beautiful scenery. But looking forward is not without its downside. And let's be honest here, looking ahead has landed us in some serious trouble. This time, the blood of our brothers and sisters, parents and children, people who had literally just finished praying at the Kotel - cleansing their souls - soiled the soles of our footwear in a Jerusalem street.
Our government, and other leaders, implored that we, the people ? citizens, residents and tourists alike ? have no choice but to accept the Road Map and its perfidious twin the hudna ? intra-Arab ceasefire. We are advised that we, the Jewish people, ?the light unto nations?, must perpetually look and lead the way forward.
Look forward? Perhaps, before we look and march forward, we ought to look inward. Perhaps, we should look down and be sure of our footing before becoming enamored with the view of facades.
I'd rather have clean shoes any day of the week.
In truth, for all of my traveling, I rarely get out to "see the sites". I prefer to leave touring experiences to others, or to a time when I can travel together with my wife and share the experience. Indeed, when traveling alone, the touring that I do engage in is generally that of walking the streets of my host city in order to get a better knowledge of my surroundings.
Upon my return from trips to Paris, many family friends who had previously visited the "City of Lights" (I guess that presupposes the great U.S. Blackout), asked me if I enjoyed the beautiful views and the magnificent architecture of the great French metropolis. To their chagrin, I responded that I had not and that, in fact, I thought the city was one of the most filthy and disgusting that I had ever seen.
"But what of the Louvre?" some queried.
"And the Champs Elysee?" asked others.
(Ever notice that nothing the French build is ever pronounced the way it's spelled?)
And then, it dawns on me. The difference between others who visit Paris and me is that I have clean shoes.
Prior to my trip, I noted that Paris is known for its overwhelming population of canines and quickly surmised that the little (and sometimes big) critters have a tendency to leave little gifts all over the sidewalks and pedestrian paths of Paris. Not wishing to overstep my bounds (so to speak), I chose to navigate the sidewalks of Paris by looking down at the ground. In so doing, I dutifully avoided soiling my footwear, while simultaneously getting a rather poor impression of the grandiose views.
Everyone else? They probably travel with a spare pair of loafers.
Which, in a roundabout way (mostly, because I have recently been informed that verbosity is a virtue in "opinion pieces"), sort of mirrors a world-view.
In the aftermath of last Tuesday's horrifying bombing in Jerusalem, the U.S. State Department spokesperson - as well as those in Israel who worship the new deity known as "RoadMap" - stated that while the heinous act perpetrated was despicable, the Israelis must "look the way forward" and "push on" with the peace process.
"Looking the way forward", as I have previously illustrated, may have some wonderful merits - you can see beautiful scenery. But looking forward is not without its downside. And let's be honest here, looking ahead has landed us in some serious trouble. This time, the blood of our brothers and sisters, parents and children, people who had literally just finished praying at the Kotel - cleansing their souls - soiled the soles of our footwear in a Jerusalem street.
Our government, and other leaders, implored that we, the people ? citizens, residents and tourists alike ? have no choice but to accept the Road Map and its perfidious twin the hudna ? intra-Arab ceasefire. We are advised that we, the Jewish people, ?the light unto nations?, must perpetually look and lead the way forward.
Look forward? Perhaps, before we look and march forward, we ought to look inward. Perhaps, we should look down and be sure of our footing before becoming enamored with the view of facades.
I'd rather have clean shoes any day of the week.