Luisa Baldini's letter from Israel

Breakfast's Luisa Baldini recently went on her first assignment to the Middle East.

Pictures of Israel and the West Bank are rarely off our television screens - but what's the area really like?

Here, Luisa gives her personal impression:

Helium balloons, welcome banners, applause and crowds of well-wishers crowded the arrivals hall at Ben Gurion airport.

Not for me of course. It's the normal Israeli welcome for friends and family returning to Tel-Aviv.

Luisa reported from Nablus

But I was drawn in by the warmth of the atmosphere which I've never experienced at any other airport before.

Maybe it was the heat which prompted the party scene.

As I landed, the Middle East was experiencing the hottest temperatures in 50 years.

The women, and even young girls looked more like they'd stepped off the beach or were going clubbing - the dearth of clothing was striking!

The natural golden light makes it seem staggeringly romantic

Luisa Baldini

I'd been under the misconception that all females in the Middle East dress demurely.

In fact it's only the devout Jewish women and Muslim Palestinian women who cover up.

When I arrived in Jerusalem it was a Friday evening, the beginning of the Jewish Shabat (Sabbath) when the roads quickly empty of devout Jews, who can't operate any machinery, which includes driving a car.

I was struck by how beautiful Jerusalem is and how calm it seemed in the natural, golden light which makes it staggeringly romantic.

But I knew this was a cruel irony and that this divided city is far from peaceful and indeed harbours much anger and grief.

You don't feel those emotions every day as a visitor.

Life goes on.

But the reminders of the lurking dangers are everywhere.

Armed Israeli soldiers are not far from sight. Bars and cafes in Jewish West Jerusalem have bodyguards with metal detectors to check every customer.

I didn't feel unsafe, though I was always aware anything could happen at any time.

The most uncomfortable I felt was sitting in a traffic jam on the infamous Jaffa Street stuck next to four buses in a row.

Not even a week since I left, and there have been two suicide bombings on busy buses and no doubt there'll be more to come.

click here for Luisa's report from Nablus

click here for Luisa's report on Israeli reservists