34. A Missile Was Shot At Me (Really)

Day 34

Location 8: Amsterdam

Dec. 4, 2022

In 2019, I visited Israel on a group trip. It was free, which is on brand. Almost everything was paid for: hotels, breakfast, dinner, events, transportation, etc. Everyday we'd do 4-5 things that–in a normal week–would be the best part of my week. Unsurprisingly, I had entered the country with suspicion: was it safe? Was it modern? Turns out, it was incredible.

For two weeks, we hiked, floated in the Dead Sea, met locals, shopped, saw breathtaking views, visited museums, swam in hot springs, and ate delicious food. In fact, the trip's final stop was a famous food spot, Dr Shakshuka in Tel Aviv, where they sell shakshouka, a tomato suace based dish.

Here's the text confirming out dinner plans.

Next we got on the bus and drove to the airport. Perfect ending to a perfect trip. But that plan was interrupted mid-dinner by sudden piercing, dumb loud sirens.

"Get under the tables! On your hands and knees!" yelled our military guard (oh yea, every group in this free trip program is assigned an armed military guard for protection). He had been goofing off most of the two weeks (including claiming he could rap a verse from Eminem's Rap God from memory, which made me feel less safe. Later, he attempted and failed to recite said verse, which made me feel even less safe). He was now infinitely serious.

Five of us were huddled under our table on our hands and knees, as instructed. My eyes were set on the face a few inches from mine and obstructed by a few hanging dreadlocks. We heard an explosion in the not-too-far distance. Yikes. No one spoke except the shouting guard "stay down!". It wasn't too terrifying, but it we weren't 100% sure we were not not going to die. That was a new experience for me. Neither dreadlocks nor and I had moved a muscle, but I looked down and we were holding hands. After a quieter explosion-esque noise in the distance, we got the all clear.

It turns out, we had just been subject to the first rocket strike on Tel Aviv by the Gaza Strip in five years. You can read more about the 2019 Tel Aviv rocket strike here.

Luckily, Israel is used to this sort of thing and is able to shoot down incoming missiles before they hit their intended target. Cool! Although there is still a danger of falling shrapnel which is why we were shepherded under the tables. Super cool! On the plus side, it made the trip ending a lot less sad. Here's a photo of me and some of the group excited to be on a plane heading home (and alive). Featured in the photo is Dreadlocks himself.

Anyway, all that is to say I ate shakshouka for breakfast in Amsterdam. It was significantly less exciting than the shakshouka I had in Israel (in the best way possible).