Tel Aviv is trying hard to be the Miami of the Middle East. With its palm trees, beach promenades and wave-riding surfers, it makes for an image that’s far from the standard expectations of the capital of Israel. Foreign accents are often as thick as the layers of sunscreen lotion applied to the tanned bodies flocking to the beach. Testosterone levels are high and the atmosphere is charged with groovy vibes. When local surfers point out that the beach is safe, it’s got a double meaning–there are no sharks in the water, but also no suicide bombers on the shore.
