Israeli bus drivers (aka- interior decorators...)

In a previous post (at least one) I have grumbled about Israeli drivers. While I am not grumbling here, I am drawing your attention to something that I feel worth mentioning.

It seems as though bus drivers in Israel have assigned busses that they drive each day. Bus 47960 belongs to Yossi and bus 45386 is Halim's. The drivers here decorate their busses on the inside and outside.

I have seen European and Israeli football (soccer) teams advertised through banners, decals, and hanging flags.

There have been drivers who have posted photos or images of their army units.

There have been drivers who have signs on the front doors saying "ברוכים הבאים" (welcome).

Then there was the ultimate. This was an older driver- with skin that was leathery because of time in the sun, longer balding grey hair that fell just below his shoulders and was slicked back with so much gel that after the 2.25 hour bus ride, it still looked like he had just stepped out of the shower. For the sake of this story, we will call him Arik. Arik had stuffed animals hanging all throughout the front of his bus. A monkey suspended from a swing on the rear mirror, a cowboy hat from the cabinet knob (I know that's not a stuffed animal but it was swinging), multiple bears and red I love you heart pillows, and a teddy bear by his window. This might have been enough but there was so much more. Besides the standard decals such as rise before the elderly (see previous post), above the door was a hanging plastic yellow dolphin, a furry bobble-head dog and a mini cupid complete with bow and arrow. Oh, did I mention the mini potted tree in the corner between the window and the windshield? Oh yes!

Arik was special...