Photo Friday (vol. LXVIII) [jumbled cave edition]

There are a host of complex formulas that retailers are supposed to use to measure how much profit they are earning per square foot.  This kind of analysis has led to narrower aisles in clothing stores and to gas stations converting their repair bays into convenience marts.

Well, it seems that Israeli retailers have taken this concept of maximizing profit per square foot (er, I mean meter) to completely silly lengths.

As exhibit 'A' I present to you one of my local hardware stores.  We actually have two in town but except for the man behind the counter they are otherwise absolutely identical.

Lest you think we are primitive cavemen, Israel has had hardware and office supply superstores for many years now.  But the neighborhood 'mom & pop' hardware store is still holding its own in smaller towns.

These stores have a dizzying array of merchandise.  And what they lack can be ordered and picked up a few days hence.

Here is the cave-like first aisle of the hardware store.  See what I mean about trying to maximize every possible inch, er I mean centimeter of space?:

I showed you that aisle first because it was the neatest one.  Here is the next one:

The space between the towering shelves is so narrow that a person almost has to turn sideways to pass.  Two people at a time?  Fagetaboudit!  My claustrophobic wife won't set foot beyond the door in this place!

Anyway, since I probably misled some of you with my title I feel like I should show you a real cave.

Here is a cave I pass on my drive through the South Hevron Hills every day.  It is set into the side of a large hill and overlooks a rolling valley through which a stream gurgles (the stream is out of sight behind the hill that is in the foreground on the right.) If you look closely there is a shepherd and his flock on the lower left side of the picture:

I am absolutely convinced that this cave must have seen thousands of years of occupation in the mists of pre-history because of the following factors:

• It is set high enough on the hill that it would be easily defensible against wild animals and men.
• It has a commanding view of the entire area.
• There is plenty of agriculture and grazing land within line of sight.
• The entrance to the cave (on the left side) is set back and there is an overhang that would keep rain and sun from reaching the entrance.

I have been hankering to go explore it... or even to get close enough to look directly into the entrance.  But it is set back behind Arab fields and is nowhere near a 'friendly' area.  So, I (and you) will have to settle with this zoom shot for the time being:

Shabbat Shalom!