Month: December 2011

Mughrabi Bridge: Open–Shut

rjstreets

The news that

the Mughrabi Bridge was reopened

inspired a trip to the Old City today.

Entering the Old City by way of Jaffa Gate

as two beautiful horses were leaving,

meant having to be extra careful walking on the stones.

The scene outside the Kotel, Western Wall Plaza, seemed quiet and normal.

But there was one thing I really wanted to see today and there it was inside…

the fire engine that was there to keep the entire Middle East from igniting.

In case this wooden structure leading to the Temple Mount catches on fire,

this fire truck will be there to save everyone.

The Kotel, the Western Wall Plaza,

was the background for TV cameras,

 as both international journalists

and international sport teams were visiting today.

Wonder if they noticed that at 2:00pm,

the fire truck left.

For Muslims there are ten different entrances to the Temple Mount,

for Jews and other non-Muslims, this gate is, or was, the only way to go.

As Hamas celebrates 24 years,

I wonder if any of them have actually seen what the fuss is all about?

But they are so proud to have killed 1,365 Israelis and wounded over 6,000

in these last 24 years…would they care?

Post from two weeks ago on Mughrabi Bridge:

Mughrabi Bridge

Jerusalem Night Run

rjstreets

 December 12, 2011 was the first run of the Jerusalem Night Run.

A sign in Mamilla Mall showed the way to the race starting point.

Maps of the route were posted,

as the run was not around the walls of the Old City, but on city streets.

Runners signed up and received an official yellow race shirt

in a special tent in the plaza outside Jaffa Gate.

A dry, but cold night, cups of complimentary hot tea were really appreciated.

An aerobic warm up to loud music for runners before the race,

got even more attention from the press when a Santa decided to loosen up.

As the last taxi left the Old City and the road was closed to traffic,

a blue carpet was laid to the official starting line.

Mayor Nir Barkat and his wife Beverly were front and center,

 but he was not smiling as he looked at his watch.

The 10 kilometer race was to start at 8:00pm “sharp”.

The runners were ready at the starting line on time,

but had to wait another ten minutes for the race to begin.

Over a 1000 runners ran to the starting line

and down the road on the Jerusalem Night Run.

The plaza area was mostly empty during the run,

 the tent with runners’  backpacks was full.

Most spectators did not hang around in the dark and cold

to watch for the runners to return.

The Jerusalem Night Run was advertised to be a warm up

to the Jerusalem Marathon in March.

Warm up…  now that sounds really nice.

More pictures from the Night Run can be found at this Facebook link:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.288863494489796.67021.152997821409698&type=1

Jerusalem Light Rail Rolls (Roils) On

rjstreets

Dear Angry Driver,

Please do not complain that you received a traffic ticket in Jerusalem

  because you were on the light rail tracks when the light turned red.

For too many years, too many Jerusalem streets looked like this.

It is a big deal for us in Jerusalem to finally be able to get anywhere…

even though it may take still a very long time.

Luckily only one man has been seriously injured, in this area of the tracks…so far.

As you sit in your private vehicle, we are standing on the train without room to move,

that is, assuming that we can elbow our way inside.

For the first few months of operation the Light Rail train ride was free of charge,

but as of December 1, 2011, we get to pay for the privilege.

One has to get through the crowd to swipe their Rav-Kav card on this machine

before a roving inspector arrives to scan your card to check for payment.

Dear Angry Driver, there is also a large fine for those who haven’t paid their fare.

At least CitiPass employed a small army to help educate the suffering public,

most are ignorant about how to put money on those Rav-Kav plastic cards.

You must  not remember the Jaffa Street of the last few years,

as the new Jaffa Street scene bears little resemblance to it.

But in constantly changing Jerusalem… this tranquil scene will not last for long.

This corner of King George and Jaffa Streets, which housed Sbarro before a

suicide bomber blew himself up murdering fifteen people, is slated for renovation.

The major construction mess of a multistory building will be upon us once again.

And Angry Driver…be happy you only got ONE ticket.

There are several locations in Jerusalem where teams of police

 regularly wait and pull over car after car and ticket the drivers.

You didn’t see the one white car that got through with the taxis,

while both police officers were busy writing up tickets on each side.

Wonder if he had any idea of just how lucky he was?

Dear Angry Driver, maybe you could tell him?