Gan Sacher – Page 5 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Marathon Highlights

March 20, 2019Sharon A

Early Friday morning on March 15, 2019, 40,000 runners filled the Jerusalem, Israel, streets for the 9th International Jerusalem Winner Marathon.

Thousands from around the world came to run in the full marathon and other races.

Streets were closed for these athletes with blue tags for full marathon.

The full Jerusalem marathon runners seemed to keep coming.

Emergency teams were in place, but I did not hear any reports of serious injury.

Some of the runners dressed up as superheroes.

Oops, this motorcycle lead for the half marathon first place went by so quickly.

I missed him coming, and only got a shot after he whizzed past.

But second place was not far behind and here he is coming into the home stretch.

This year I decided to take fewer photos, so I missed the rest of the half marathon runners.

International media covered the event, here is one doing an interview in Arabic.

The flags of the eighty participating countries are flying along the route to starting line. This year for the first time there was a Syrian flag.

Heavy rains the day before of the marathon blocked view of Jaffa Gate.

Mayor Moshe Lion and dignitaries had to pose inside with elite runners.

Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, was one big mud patch, but the sun was shining and temperature cool and pleasant for the races.

Key areas were covered, like this area near the stage where the first place medals were awarded.

The Jerusalem Marathon is always more than a competition for the fastest running.

Team Shalva had teen participants from US schools, among its hundreds of supporters. Shalva raises large sums each year from this event.

Other nonprofits and charities had teams and booths in the park.

Teams from Camp HASC and AMIT, and over 100 good causes, come year after year.

One new team this year was Lion of Tzion. These young people organized to run to raise money to buy a food truck in memory of Ari Fuld z”l to take food and treats to IDF soldiers.

Trampolines were set up in the park as one of the activities for families, and at an early hour it was not crowded.

But in spite of weather the day before, and in spite of the mud in the park, runners and their supporters came.

For the new ninja, there was a long line waiting for a turn.

Media was waiting for the full marathon winner to arrive and cross the finish line.

There were two main finish lines, the one in the park was only for the full marathon,

while the long list of other races end at the other locations outside of the park.

This was the crowd waiting to greet the marathon winner.

New Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion was ready at the finish line for a photo op.

Mayor Lion stood waiting for the winner, front and center.

So center, with the medal in his hand, the mayor blocked my view of both the first and second place finishers.

All the first place runners were from Kenya this year.

But there was more action at the starting lines and the other finish lines.

The starting line was out of the park and up the hill toward the Israel Museum and Knesset.

At the various starts there was a burst of energy and excitement.

For years I tried to get a photo of former Mayor Nir Barkat.

This year I did not try and there he was with the green tag to the right.

So many smiles and such excitement, this woman was with a group from Hong Kong.

Thousands waited for their starts, over and over, every 15 minutes for the 10K races.

There was also a special 5K track for a family friendly, slower paced walk.

The finish line for the 10K runners was impressive.

People were pushing baby strollers.

Also there were runners pushing wheelchairs in various races.

Seems each year, one person I find at start and finish. I was not looking for him this year, but there was Nir Barkat.

Runners were still arriving as people were slowly walking home.

Full marathon runners were arriving to Gan Sacher on this newly finished path.

Hundreds of volunteers were cleaning up thousands of water bottles along the route.

The Jerusalem Winner Marathon has become more than an annual sports competition.

Each year I go back, and say I will take fewer photos, but do not succeed.

Here are two examples of why I spend hours walking and sharing this event.

One their way to the midday family run, I met up with one family.

Big brother gave his medal for finishing the 5K run to his little brother.

And with all the tens of thousands of runners at the finish line, some seem more special.

Team spirit. Family spirit. A day of unity. Am Yisrael Chai.

Some smiles were more special than others, races were not about who came in first.

Finally – with posting this, my Jerusalem Marathon is over for this year.

Now time to get ready for next marathon!

Crazy Purim in Jerusalem, check out official events HERE

Are you up to more Jerusalem Marathon, check out photos HERE and HERE

Jerusalem: Walk, Run, Ride, Skate and Eat

February 13, 2019Sharon A

After the winter rains, when the skies clear over Jerusalem, Israel,

open spaces like this one under the Israel Museum turn green.

Instead of driving south to see the kalaniot, the red poppies, popping up,

I love to walk through the paths in the Valley of the Cross,

to see the wonders of nature right here in Jerusalem,

and see those red flowers that open up in the sunshine.

As the wild flowers peek through the rocks and weeds, often I am alone walking up the hill towards the Israel Museum and the Knesset.

However, last Friday morning, nursery children were having a pre-Shabbat party with their parents.

School children were also appreciating the wonders of spring.

Not all were walking, this man was running down the path that leads to

this new walking and cycling path that will lead to the Jerusalem Marathon finish line.

The Jerusalem Winner Marathon to be held on March 15, 2019 was launched last night by new Mayor Moshe Lion.

The full marathon runners, with the Knesset in the not so far distance, at this point will be near the finish line.

The new path is ready for the full Jerusalem Marathon runners before they enter the Gan Sacher, Sacher Park.

There will be many more vantage points this year, as old and burnt areas have been cleared.

New benches have been placed along the cycling, walking and running path for spectators.

After months of work, Gan Sacher looks like it will be ready before the start countdown.

Posted across from Gan Sacher, is this large ad for the ice skating rink and food in Mitchell Park.

The Jerusalem Marathon is in its ninth year, but there is a new location for the ice skating rink.

There have been previous ice skating rinks in Jerusalem, but this one seems to be the largest, with a new concept of ice and eat in Mitchell Park, which is near the Artists’ Colony.

Not many people were eating or skating last night.

No one was smoking last night when we went to check it out.

And finally cycling. GFNY is set for May 3, 2019, and the registration sale ends at the end of February, but these cyclists were out training already. Another chance for amateur cyclists to ride with the pros.

Jerusalem is not usually associated with sports, but walk, run, ride, or skate, or sit and eat.

Always something new happening on these Jerusalem streets.

More photos of marathon launch HERE

Best of Passover in Jerusalem

April 4, 2018Sharon A

The Passover holiday in Jerusalem, Israel, is always a busy time with so much to do.

After days of cleaning and shopping, and a late night seder, what next?

This year I decided not to spend hours in the car along with millions of other Israelis going to lush camping sights and sandy beaches, but rather to stay home and explore what Jerusalem has to offer.

Now to share with you some of the best of Jerusalem for Passover this year 5778.

Where else to start, but with food.

Some restaurants like this new humus place were closed tight for Passover.

But not to worry, in Jerusalem, there was an abundance of kosher for Passover places to eat. This Holy Bagel in the Old City is not only mehadrin kosher, but “KOSHER without fear of legumes!”

With baskets of matza on the table, this potato crust pizza looked good enough to eat. People were standing in lines for seats to taste for themselves.

Pizza, rolls, sandwiches, pies, cakes and more…one of the best places for Passover food is in Jerusalem, Israel.

Mamilla Mall was busy and crowded with local shoppers and international tourists, plus entertainment and performances for children.

Another favorite was seeing the clothing in the Old City, with many dressed in their holiday finest, wearing every type of outfit imaginable.

With so many activities for families, it was hard to decide what to do first, as dozens of museums and sites were free for children. The Tower of David had families walking, touring, and climbing.

From the Tower of David you could see the Old City ramparts walk with tourists going along the top of the walls of the Old City.

Days were warm and the sun beat down midday. But volunteers were in several locations in Old City offering cups of water, free to all who walked by.

The Golden Menorah was moved near the Hurva Synagogue, where tourists were busy taking photos.

This menorah is a photo posted near where the gold one was located. The Western Wall elevator is to be constructed here.

Remember I said every type of clothing imaginable? How about a Betar uniform from the 1920’s?

It was reported 100,000 people were at Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing, Monday morning.

In the afternoon and for most of the week, the Western Wall Plaza was still filled with families.

All day long tens of thousands of people came and went from the Old City.

This line was not at the security entrance leading to the women’s section, but just a long line of tourists waiting to access the Temple Mount.

The egalitarian section, however, was almost empty. On the right of this photo, if you look very closely, you can see children playing near the stones from the Second Temple.

While so many were in the Old City, other Jerusalem locations were also holiday destinations.