current-events – Page 22 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem 2019 Light Festival in Old City

June 27, 2019Sharon A

The annual Jerusalem Light Festival is once again lighting up the walls of the Old City.

Every year I try and go early to get into position for photos at sunset.

The lights were just getting going near the end of the Blue route.

‘Choosing Mildness’ would be more vivid after dark.

For each installation, a sign was posted with details.

Thankfully I took photos of a few signs.

A very nice young man in a security vest offered me his map, only the text was in Arabic!

So the first piece of advice, start at the beginning of the routes and do not go in reverse as I did.

I could not find the last art piece #17 on the Blue Route. Due to security for an event on Thursday night, it was not open on Wednesday as well.

The next to last piece, #16 ‘Trumpet Flowers,’ was ready to go.

This year the Blue Route goes on the outside of the old city walls from Jaffa Gate to Dung Gate. But beware if you do the route in reverse it can get confusing.

Lights and people dressed in lights were popular this year.

Near Jaffa Gate, as it got dark the blue lights were easy to follow.

More actors dressed in lights were near Jaffa Gate.

This was one of my favorite photographs.

However, since I cannot read Arabic, I am not sure what it is.

The lights on Damascus Gate were interesting near the end of the Green Route.

They changed, but too slowly for a good video.

I had forgotten just how amazing was the masterpiece from five years ago.

Here was one interactive Green Route attraction aimed to interest children.

This was my fourth attempt to take a video here.

Families kept walking by and posing for photos.

Entering the New Gate on the Red Route was this piece.

‘Street Flowers’ was a popular overhead attraction.

The streets in the Arab market are always an interesting photo op.

The shops themselves are colorful when well lit.

‘Call for a Wish’ needed a video better than a photograph.

Lucky this year, instead of getting lost in the Christian Quarter, as usual, I met the artist of #17 Blue Route at Muristan Square. Mr. Franck was free to wander as his special piano will not be on display until next week.

By the time I got to the light tunnel crowds were building.

You should be seeing many photos and videos of this attraction.

More shops were open in the Arab shuk than in the past.

It got so crowded in some places, I had to hold my camera over my head and push through the crowd trying hard not to fall on the uneven stone streets.

I finished the Red Route back at the plaza by Jaffa Gate.

The photo of the walls outside Jaffa Gate was not the usual lovely image.

But it seems this ‘Dance Party’ was just getting started as I was leaving.

This year there was no route that went through the Jewish Quarter.

Remember last year’s beautiful ‘Rainbow’ on the Hurva Synagogue?

I am considering going back next week to check out my new friend’s piano in Davidson Archeological Park.

This was the serious equipment aimed at the walls near the end of the Blue Route.

Jerusalem 2019 Light Festival runs from June 26 to July 4th.

It has been a while since I did over a 3-hour walk.

Make sure you wear good shoes.

Let me know what you think of the Festival of Light in Jerusalem if you go.

There’s much more happening in Jerusalem, Israel this week, but enough for now.

King Herod of Judea-Builder of Caesarea

June 19, 2019Sharon A

One thing Jerusalem, Israel does not have is a good view of the sea.

An attempt for a beach in Liberty Bell Park was a poor substitute.

So a trip to the coast and the sea was a welcome treat.

The sign “The Sea” between palm trees greets visitors to Caesarea coastal park.

Here part of the remains of Herod’s Sebastos Harbor has been exposed.

But other portions are being worked on carefully by archaeologists.

The trip was to attend the launch of the new Visitor Center.

Josephus wrote of Herod’s tribute to Caesar in the first century BCE.

Herod the Builder. Herod the Great. Ruler of Judea. Builder of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Builder of the fortress, Masada. Builder of Herodion.

Herod built Sebastos to honor Caesar Augusta and the goddess Roma.

In this photograph from the video in the new Visitor Center video, we see his vision.

One scene illustrated the hundreds of boats that came through.

Herod’s building project took ten years to complete. Tons open tons of cement went into rafts sunk, along the coast which had no natural harbor.

Herod or Hordus as he is called in Hebrew began globalization in the region.

Caesar Augustus attended the gala opening of the one mile long piers and temple.

However, this massive building project lay in ruins for 2000 years.

Now, located in one of the fourteen vaults Herod built to support the platform of the temple of Augustus and Roma, the new Caesarea Visitor Center is open to the public.

The once-thriving area was rebuilt and hosted many rulers over the centuries – pagan, Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Samaritan.

In the museum, artifacts from various periods are on display.

An ancient menorah was placed next to a modern visual box, hard to catch in a photograph.

Visuals of the past help the visitor to see how the 60-acre site would have looked.

King Herod’s gateway to the Mediterranean Sea was constructed in the 1st century BCE.

On display are recovered pottery pieces that span the centuries.

This was the outside of the vault of the Caesarea Visitor Center at sunset,

and next to it an area where Roman baths greeted weary seafarers.

The Caesarea project was funded by the Rothschild Foundation and featured family wine at its launch.

As the sun set, this was as close to the beach as I could get.

Because of the tight security, I was afraid if I left I might not get back in.

The lights went on, the program began.

Musicians played and the statues turned. Oh my, they turned out to be live performers.

President Reuven Rivlin arrived after a tour of the new museum and spoke.

Cutting the ribbon with Baroness Ariana de Rothschild before he headed back to Jerusalem.

Then the party and music really got going.

Perhaps that is why the neighbors were invited along with media and dignitaries?

Though I do not usually take selfies, this outdoor portable toilet fit for royalty needed a photo. Sorry, I cannot share the pleasant smell. This was not your usual portaloo.

The Caesarea harbor is to be once again a major stop for visitors.

I took a short clip from the video, which should be the first stop on a visit to the new Caesarea Visitor Center.

King Herod. King of Judea. Hard to describe in a few words in a blog.

Visitors can now experience parts of his story in Caesarea.

Man taking a photo at Israel Festival production of Romeo and Juliet

Jerusalem after Shavuot – Festival Season

June 12, 2019Sharon A

Oh, time seems to fly in Jerusalem, Israel.

One holiday and major event goes into another on the Jerusalem streets.

Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, with its multiple events, is over.

Only a few leftover signs and flying flags remain.

Italians were here for an international travel bloggers summit and posed in First Station.

They did not realize the colorful shades were for the Jerusalem Pride Parade.

Before the parade began, near the Liberty Bell Park starting point, I saw this group of security personnel gather for afternoon prayers.

The American Center is still lit with rainbow-colored lights at night.

There were tens of thousands of visitors in Jerusalem for Shavuot. Synagogues and streets were filled day and night. In this photo, you can see a few of the hundreds of lectures and classes offered.

Though it’s called the Israel Festival, the decades-old festival is held in Jerusalem, in various venues. This year it runs from May 30 to June 15, with enough programs to fill a newspaper supplement.

I want to share one production by the Elad Theatre held at the Museum of Natural History.

This was the main entrance, back in days of the protests to save the Nature Museum.

Coming up the stairs from the parking lot near Emek Refaim as the sun was setting, lights were on at the Jerusalem Museum of Natural History.

Was there always a pond on the grounds? For sure there wasn’t special catering.

The Nature Museum was best known for its large live snakes and tortoises.

But on the grounds this night there was a table set for a banquet dinner. Dining, dancing with live music, and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was on the menu for this Israel Festival event.

Here was Juliet on the balcony of the Nature Museum for the Masquerade Ball.

At the opening scene, the audience donned masks and mingled with the actors. After drinks, the party was getting going with enthused production extras.

Romeo and Juliet met at the ball, but the main scenes were held as the audience dined on the catered food and more wine.

The actors used the entire area, including on the tables. There were no bad or back row seats. There was interaction with the audience throughout this Hebrew language adaptation of the Bard.

Shakespeare is not routinely taught in Israeli schools. So in case, you do not know the conclusion of this famous story, I will end with one photo of the fight scene.

The location and weather were fabulous. It was a great production, even if I did not try the food or drink. I hope this is not the last production of this type.

But as soon as the Israel Festival is over, Tzamid Festival, Arts without Boundaries, begins.

Design Week at Hansen House looks to be bigger than ever.

And the annual Shavuah Hasefer, Hebrew Book Week starts tonight at First Station.

I tried to get a photo of the new signs on the other side near the entrance from the parking lot. But an overly conscientious security guard would not let me get close enough after I walked all the way around.

Graduations and end of year performances, an International Freedom of Press Conference at the Jerusalem Press Club and a Camera event on antisemitism in the mainstream media were all happening last night, along with a concert at the Tower of David for the Israel Festival.

And the annual Jerusalem Light Festival is coming soon.

Amazing and diverse things happening on these Jerusalem streets!

More Romeo & Juliet – The Last Supper – photos HERE