Haifa Daydreaming

I once spent a beautiful day gazing over a deep blue Mediterranean Sea from a hilltop covered with fragrant trees. Interspaced with the foliage were stylish coffee shops and busy stores. From my vantage point I could see remains of a crusader castle and a port busy with commerce. My guide was very happy that at least two of his four charges traveled up to Haifa with him, we celebrated with my first Arab coffee at his friend’s café. We ended the day at the fantastic B’nai B’rith complex, centered on a hillside.

No doubt if I had been some miles up the coast I would have had an equally wonderful day at a city once called the Paris of the Middle East, chances of that happening soon are at best minimal. Beirut is also a casualty of mankind. As I listen to news reports I have no doubts that people in both cities wish for just one more fantastic day.