THE SEA
John F. Kennedy once said: “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.”
The sea at Ashkelon is an integral part of “whence we came”. Not just a beautiful beach, Ashkelon was one of the main cities of the Philistines, who fought the ancient Israelites and the city was destroyed in 605 BCE by Nebuchadnezar. Today, the serenity of the sea masks it’s ancient past and is a magical healing space for young and old.
RELAXING AT THE SEA
For years, health professionals have recommended visits to the sea to improve health. Whether it is the fresh sea air, with extra oxygen, or the salt water, rich in minerals, living near the sea may improve both physical and mental health. The sea at Ashkelon is the perfect place to step back from the craziness of everyday life and take in a beautiful sunset.
“When it comes to why, exactly, the beach gets you feeling all Zen, there are a few factors at play…The color blue has been found by an overwhelming amount of people to be associated with feelings of calm and peace,” according to Richard Shuster, PsyD, clinical psychologist. He goes on to say that “Staring at the ocean actually changes our brain waves’ frequency and puts us into a mild meditative state.”
RELAXATION FOR THE SOUL
There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul. Victor Hugo.
Catching Fish
On any given day, amatuer fishers find their favorite spots to catch fish. Some bring chairs and relax while they wait for nibbles on their lines. Some rent boats and go offshore sportfishing, looking for the larger, more elusive game fish.
Surfing in Ashkelon
Goote’s Beach is rated in the top ten surfing locations in Israel and the best in the south. Delilah Beach, is also a popular spot for surfing.
We were drawn to Ashkelon because of the sea. We wake up every morning and walk to the beach, take a dip in the amazing water and soak up some some. What an amazing routine.
When we moved to Israel we chose a community based on what was best for our kids. Now that the kids are no longer living at home, we moved to Ashkelon to live in a city that is best for us!
Why Ashkelon? It is the last affordable seaside community close to the centre. We love living here and our children and grandchildren love visiting us too. Win-win!
When you wake up in the morning and decide that you want to go to the beach, the hardest thing is trying to decide which of the many beaches to go to.
Ashkelon has a number of public beaches with lifeguard stations as well as separate beach with specific days/hours for men and women.
