On Trees and Forests

sunset as seen through trees in Safed

With the aid of new technology, Police has only recently solved the case of rape and murder of a young woman found in a forest near Jerusalem 26(!!) years ago.

There were, sadly, many cases in the past, of  dead bodies found in the forests. That, and the wild fires that break out almost every year make me sometimes say "I love trees, I don't love forests". 
I'm aware, of course, of their huge importance to the planet; they are in fact the 'lungs' of the planet and stabilze climate by turning CO2 into oxygen, preserve the soil and support wildlife. And still...

Anyway, I do like those patches of forest arranged specially for picnics and recreation which bring  lots of pleasure and joy to people..

picnic area - Mizpe Ramon

picnic spot - Forest of the Martyrs near Jerusalem

As for trees, I love them all; the  fruit- bearing trees as well as the other species. Unlike the gloomy forest, the individual trees are bright and mood uplifting.

It goes without saying that we love fruit trees for giving us the best food on earth. I cannot imagine life without fruit. I eat them in all the forms possible: raw, cooked, with seeds, without seeds, and enjoy them immensely. I feel they are the true elixir of life.

cherries from the Golan Heights

 However, it is also those single trees,  fulfilling  a specific crucial function  in specific areas, that attract my attention; the trees providing shade in the desert, serving as lookout, marking a boundary, creating an urban 'green lung', ... the list is endless.

provides shade for animals in the desert (the Alpaca Farm) - desert

trees provide  shade to a cute  little puddle area

attraction on the Yarkon river bank - sort of decorative tree 

marks the boundary between town, cemetery, industrial zone

Green  tiny corner  ('lung'), for the passersby of Bialik street (Ramat-Gan )

Estonia, Here We Come

My most traumatic childhood memories are related to the   overflowing, after heavy rains, of the local Baseu river -  (north-east Romania). It involved evacuation and being  cut off from supplies.

Since then, I've never lived  too close to a body of water.
In fact, I 'm not keen on living  close to any of Nature's major elements: forests , volcanoes , mountains, seas  - certainly not now, with all those ominous predictions following climate change.

Although things have somehow improved regarding warnings, Nature always seems to surprise us in the most devastating of ways. I feel deep sorrow for all those who experience evacuations and loss due to wildfires, hurricanes, tzunami, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, floods, etc..

They say, based on statistics, that so far, Estonia is one of the safest countries ( natural hazards considered). Next on the list are tiny Andorra, Bahrein, Qatar. Estonia and Andorra are in Europe; Qatar and Bahrein in Asia.

Estonia (blue spot) - between Finland, Latvia, and Russia

 I know very little about Estonia, but we  are all acquainted with the fact that Qatar and Bahrein sit on great petroleum deposits. As for Andorra, it has one of the highest life expectancy in the world. Besides, it attracts thousands of shoppers as  it's a duty  free zone. Lucky places!

Anyway, I've got a theory. It seems to me that natural disasters have greatly increased  in number and intensity since Globalization  has been accelerated (namely, during the last decades). Globalization is kind of a challenge on the God-created world order. It is not new, it started in the days of Columbus. Perhaps, if we withdraw from it, things will calm down. Worth a try, considering the alternative of getting swallowed by the oceans. 

IMTM 2019

On Wednesday(13.Feb.) in the late afternoon hours, I went to the International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM) at the 'Convention Center' of "Expo Tel Aviv".

to the main entrance of Expo TA

Quite a colorful, entertaining event!  Less lively and versatile than in previous years, I must admit, but that's not surprising. Things around us get more instant and/or business-like all the time. Besides , I visited on the second day. It is the first day that gets all the buzz.

Lovely poster!  it attracted attention.

There were many touristic booths to be seen (some of them very nicely decorated; Guatemala, Greece, Czech Republik, Cypress), and  a lot of walking to be done among them.  However, it was all worth the effort.
The event had a cosmopolitan air about it which made one feel part of the big world, and that was a good feeling.

Guatemala's attractive space

Czech Republic; nice!

 near the Serbia booth- reminder of my  Belgrade visit last summer

The fair is an opportunity to get free quality maps of all of the participating countries and cities.  A good map is priceless, and it always comes handy when you're away from home. Sometimes, the map offered at the stand is accompanied by small ,cute mementos (pens, bags, coasters, cards, tiny calendars, mini maps) which make the visiting experience even more pleasant and rewarding. 

exchanging information

Some booths offer special attractions. This time it was Taiwan with a contest and prizes. Certain countries have their representatives wear national costumes (the girls from Odessa, for example- a delightful sight). A filipino girl attracted visitors with some specific technique of creating a picture.

Taiwan contest with prizes

we have a winner

Odessa girls in traditional embroidered blouses

filipino young woman creating a picture 

the picture as seen on the nearby screen

Food , as always, is the star ; fast food  outside, in the lovely warm weather, before or after entering the huge Expo building. Cafeteria food (pastry, sandwiches, coffee and beverages ) in the main entrance hall.  Inside the booths' area -   there were  offers of biscuits, candies, cheese, wine to visitors.  Culinary brochures with specific food of various regions, were displayed on most of the stands.

Fast food stand in the open air

Fast food stand

eating fast food outside

Cafeteria in the entrance hall

cakes and sandwiches

people eating in the entrance hall

Information pamphlets on Wellness opportunities (spas, beauty, health treatments), are also quite an attraction at these fairs. To mention a few: ayurvedics (India), aquatic pool at Debrecen (Hungary),  mineral springs (Romania, Czech Republik, Slovenia).

I came home loaded with stuff I'll have to sort out , view and read. I feel I'm behind with certain geographical and political knowledge, and this stuff will definitely help me catch up with things.