Ever walk by something many times and not really notice?
Even with my camera always out and ready,
I had not really paid attention
to this building,
the Saint Louis French Hospital.
Its gates were opened recently for a few hours to the press.
Damage from a broken water pipe revealed hidden art on the walls.
Built across from New Gate of the Old City in the 19th century,
Comte Marie Paul Amédée de Piellat, a French nobleman funded,
designed and decorated the building after World War I.
His frescoes
were revealed to the public after years out of view,
that whole story has been written up in many places.
But, though I have seen the Israeli Antiquities photos of these frescoes,
no one posted a photo of the Kosher certificate near the entrance.
This hospital run by the Sisters of St Joseph of Apparition is kosher.
There is no sukkah,
but 50 volunteers came from Germany to clean for Passover.
Arriving after the official tour had ended,
one of the two chaplains kindly showed me around.
Going through the nuns’ private upstairs sleeping quarters to the roof,
was a great view of Notre Dame where Pope Francis
will stay on his visit in Jerusalem, Israel.
By roof top, Notre Dame is just a hop, skip and a jump away.
Too bad the patients at St Louis are much too ill to enjoy the views,
like this hidden oasis in back of the hospice.
I could have spent hours up there,
with incredible views
of Jerusalem, Israel, from all directions.
When security is high, sharp shooters are posted on roof tops.
Ever wonder what that is like?
Now you know what they will see for Pope’s visit.
Too bad that streets will be cleared when Pope Francis arrives,
he will not see the real Jerusalem streets.
