One way from getting away from the news is to go to the beach.  In my Arabic lessons on Duolingo, next to the phrase “praise be to God,” the most common phrase is “I love swimming in the Mediterranean Sea,” and almost the only Mideast cities that are mentioned are those on the coast – Alexandria, Beirut, and “ancient Palestinian cities,” and it is so understandable.  On holidays and weekends, the beach is full of Arab families, but during the week in winter, there are only surfers, a few brave swimmers, and some stragglers like us.  But the sea really helps to recognize how fragile we are.  And how universal human emotions.