Jaffa Gate – Page 6 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Formula Road Show

October 7, 2014rjstreets

For two days the Jerusalem Formula 2014 Road Show

shut down some Jerusalem, Israel streets.

Naftali Bennett advised a group of visiting Vietnamese government officials,

if there are two Jews, there will be three opinions,

and for this event there certainly were different opinions.

The weather was warm and sky clear,

as the opening stretched an hour over scheduled time.

There is no special track in Israel for racing

and knowledge of race cars is limited,

Many do not know a Blu blue car

from another blue car.

But for the second year,

beautiful fast machines

were out near the Old City to impressive.

The track was not a loop like last year,

so it was easy at Tower of David

where cars turned around to take photos.

But I did get this car speeding up.

A big difference this year was that several young Israelis were featured:

one was Roy Nissany.

More Israeli flags were out this year.

Terry Grant not only smoked up the street with his spinning Hot Rod,

but got out, walked away, and then got back in the moving vehicle,

all without wearing a helmet.

And then there were the motorcycles,

flying over the streets

upside down

and sideways,

with riders doing amazing stunts,

as crowds lined the show areas.

Do we need to shut down streets before a holiday

(a summer event had to be postponed)

or any time for this spectacle?

I heard an American tourist say,

“Seems to me to be a lot of money and noise for not so much.”

As we walked the long way around because of barriers on the track,

she added that she was 66 years old,

and does not think the same way she did when she was 16.

Young people were excited and came out to see the cars,

thousands were out to see,

what was happening on the Jerusalem, Israel streets.

Mayor Nir Barkat and Eugene Kaspersky think motorsport history has been made in Jerusalem

and that it is great and an investment for the future,,

but many others disagree.

Now enough with cars,

it is time to prepare for Sukkot,

but if you want to see more of that crazy motorcycle show,

please click HERE.

Beautiful Jerusalem Scenes then Rocket Siren

August 20, 2014rjstreets

Last night as the sun was setting,

traffic around the Old City was heavy and slow.

Mamilla Mall was crowded with people.

The usually deserted Artists’ Colony was alive for

Hutzot Hayotzer, the annual international arts festival.

Security was tight for this mega rip-off, but hugely popular

international fair of merchandise and food.

This man was taking advantage of the crowds,

hoping to raise money for sick people.

I walked through Teddy Park,

across from the Walls of the Old City, this former No Man’s Land,

packed with people.

I imagine the designer of the special water fountain

thought of it as a place where people would come together,

but this corner as a place for afternoon prayer services?

Jaffa Gate was unusually quiet, the Arab vendors were not around,

and one of the major gifts shops was closed.

Israelis were out to enjoy the last of summer evenings,

but tourists have been scared away this summer.

Too bad they are missing the sights,

like the beauty of Hurva Synagogue as the sun sets,

the Old City views,

and seeing the majesty of the Kotel, the Western Wall, up close.

But my favorite scene was nearby on the Kotel plaza.

A soldier just back from reserve duty, still wearing his gun,

had come to the Kotel with his young family.

He was surrounded by young admirers.

Perfect weather.

All was calm.

But,

Hamas broke a cease-fire for the 11th time,

and for the second day in a row southern Israel

was pounded by rockets and mortars from Gaza.

Then,

last night the warning siren went off

as we were on way home from the Old City.

We had to get out of the car

and run to stand near a wall with no glass windows.

We then heard a boom in the distance.

It was a quiet street, with nothing special to photograph.

But the family members who were at the Kotel,

had to first go up against the wall,

then were sent into the tunnels to wait out the ten minutes.

Hamas was trying to hit Jerusalem, Israel,

with their rockets…again.

100 rockets launched at southern Israel since midnight

and 30 targets attacked in Strip overnight,

for way too many sleepless nights.

Rocket sirens now in Beer Sheva,

too many places to list.

How did so many thousands of rockets get into Gaza?

How did so little else get accomplished by Hamas?

Jerusalem Light Festival 2014

June 17, 2014rjstreets

Jerusalem, City of Light.

One of the most popular cultural events hosted in the Old City

is the Jerusalem Light Festival.

I like to arrive early and wander the alleyways

as the sun set and the colorful lights came on.

This was an unique light piece in the Christian Quarter,

but there were several of these posters.

Many more Arab shops were open this year,

these drinks were ready for the large crowds.

The blue lights

led us past the barbershop which was open, but not busy.

There were 29 stops along four routes.

One of the most interesting was in front of the Hurva Synagogue.

Using buildings as screens,

for projected

works was big this year.

Easy to know who did “Circus of Light.”

Colored lights on the walls were in several locations.

This interactive piece changed as people touched it.

Nearby outside the walls, these globes changed in color and form.

This work near Jaffa Gate was an imposing structure,

and looked different from the other side.

Along the street to the Damascus Gate were actors,

in costume, in colorful settings,

but when you got close it looked so different.

Inside Jaffa Gate another light show shined on the Christian Information Center.

But my favorite was Damascus Gate,

where the 6 minute

light show required a video.

Photos of this huge, colorful complex piece

will probably be favorites from this 5th annual event.

But I also like this simple photo from the night.

The festival runs from June 11-19.

A lot of walking is involved.

It is hard to see everything in one night.

Some friends said they were disappointed,

but I think it was much better than last year.