A real-life Ghost Town

Drove down South at the weekend, to get a taste of Southern living. Ended up in Sderot, a town those of you from outside Israel have probably never heard of, but a town which is probably lingering around in the subconscious of most Israelis. I'm definitely on their side, I think it must be an absolute fucking nightmare (currently there's a cease-fire, one of the reasons we felt it was reasonably safe to go there) to live there, constantly listening out for the wail of the siren warning of incoming Qassams. Can't imagine what it's like, especially with the added responsibility of kids, though I do recall the Gulf War sirens playing havoc with my nerves...

I could post some pix of Sderot that I took, but they look like everytown on a Saturday, all deserted and shut, with just a few people wandering around, mostly on their way to synagogue. Felt very empty, like something was missing...

Also had a beer in Ashkelon, just up the road from Sderot, which has also been on the receiving end of some Qassams recently. Sorry, but that is one ugly town, not quite the ugliest in Israel, but whoever designed those blocks of sea view apartments obviously only had a profit on his mind. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt if a few Qassams landed there...