Jaffa Gate – Page 14 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Tour de Jerusalem

December 7, 2011rjstreets

The first ever Tour de Jerusalem bicycle race was held on December 6, 2011

featuring both Tour de France winner Alberto Contador

and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat as riders.

Some bicycle enthusiasts arrived through Mamilla Mall

and then climbed the steps toward the Old City.

Time to call home and let Mom know, “I am riding with Alberto.”

Crowds gathered by Jaffa Gate

where the race was to begin.

Some of the cyclists came up the hill toward the Jaffa Gate

and others waited by the gate for their entrance.

When the race did not begin at the announced 4:30pm start time,

this was the scene inside of Jaffa Gate.

The race finally did begin and

the expert cyclists came off the mark quickly.

Of the thousands of spectators,

these girls from Denmark, here to volunteer in a local soup kitchen,

were some of the most vocal when they spotted a rider they knew from home.

The riders were not the only ones who had to be careful on their hilly route.

Even with years of infrastructure work the plaza needs more, so watch your step.

As the moon rose,

the first lap of the race was ending.

The walls of the Old City were a beautiful sight at sunset.

Tour de France winner Alberto Contador won the first ever Tour de Jerusalem.

No surprise there and only one reported rider injury…

this cycling event was a success.

Additional photos on The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.285448974831248.66555.152997821409698&type=1

Looking To September

August 31, 2011rjstreets

While Hurricane Irene soaked the eastern United States last weekend,

it will be some time before there is a threat of rain in Jerusalem.

Seems the only ‘rain’ here are the missiles, grads and rockets from Gaza,

which continue to fall in southern Israel in spite of a Hamas call for a truce.

All was quiet this morning, but last night

loud music and the sounds of teenagers laughing ended near midnight,

possibly neighborhood complaints of noise were all that dampened

the end of summer party for a Jerusalem Israeli scout troop.

It was quite a contrast to the terror attack the night before in Tel Aviv.

A man from Nablus carjacked a taxi at knife point, cutting the driver,

then rammed the stolen vehicle into a police barrier that

was erected to protect a dance club teenage end of summer party.

Eight people were stabbed as the terrorist yelled “Allah is Great”

August coincided with the Muslim Ramadan holiday this year.

The Eid Al-Fitr, end of month celebrations silence the jack hammers in Jerusalem

and the construction cranes stop flying, while in Syria more people were killed.

In the Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan

the colored lights at night were bright

as were the ones in the Old City.

Colored lights were strung at Jaffa Gate,

Damascus Gate,

and Herod’s Gate.

Late at night, young men came to sell food and merchandise

and women sat to enjoy the cool night air.

Even young children would be out late at night during the month of celebration.

As the sun set, smoke

and more smoke from the food being cooked to break the day’s fasting

filled Gan Ha’pa’amon, the Liberty Bell Park .

There is often a rise in violence after this month devoted to Koran study.

A molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli ambulance this week,

no one thought to bother this PA ambulance.

As we look to September, security is again heightened near Eilat

and security precautions are in the news.

Hype about a PA statehood vote in September at the UN is gaining steam,

while the PA and Hamas cannot even agree on one time zone.

As for the real streets, everyone is looking anxiously to September,

September 1 is the first day of school.

The last week of August there is no regular day care,

every grandparent, friend and neighbor is called on to help out hassled parents.

Who is the most excited for the first day of school?

The sound of the shofar this morning announced the Hebrew month of Elul,

Chodesh tov…

here’s hoping and praying for a good month

and

looking to a peaceful September!

More Israeli Apartheid?

March 24, 2011rjstreets

Boycott Israel Day approaches, Israel Apartheid Week goes on and on

and we hear that 6 people are killed in a mosque in Syria.

In Jerusalem,

in spite of calls for “Days of Rage”,

Muslim prayer services have gone on

Friday

after Friday.

Around Mamilla Mall

and the Old City walls,

freedom of movement is hampered only by wet and cold weather.

Purim security checks were required of everyone

when entering

areas crowded with costumed celebrants.

As hundreds of mourners tried to squeeze on the only Egged bus

to the funeral for the murdered Fogel family,

an Arab woman was waiting at the same bus stop,

the scene of the Jerusalem bombing where a woman was killed.

It is not far from Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

where preparations for the Jerusalem Marathon were well under way.

Two hours before the bus stop bomb exploded,

bus loads of Arab school children arrived at Gan Sacher

for an outing in the park.

Human rights are abused, freedom of religion is denied,

ethnic cleansing and atrocities are in the media,

but hard to find on the real streets of Jerusalem.