Jerusalem Moving Outside – but Aquarium?

Jerusalem, Israel has completed most of the spring exhausting holiday season.

A very different holiday season it was!

Sunday, May 3, 2020, slowly some businesses and classrooms reopened.

Jerusalem Knesset at night

Finally, lights were on inside the Knesset Building, not just holiday lights strung on the street.

View of prayer plaza of Kotel divided for COVID-19 prayers

The Kotel, Western Wall was divided into smaller prayer areas.

Gan Sacher park empty on rainy day

Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, was empty for Yom Haatzmaut, Independence Day,

instead of being crowded with families and friends gathered for the usual mangals, BBQs.

Tourism is a huge factor in life in Jerusalem and its economy.

The municipality is looking for ways to slowly get back to “normal.”

Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

Jerusalem Botanical Gardens is one large open area where people could social distance.

Jerusalem Gazelle Valley opening day

Gazelle Park is another large open green space.

Entrance to Jerusalem Biblical Zoo

The Biblical Zoo, as the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens in Jerusalem is called, is another popular open area that could be reopened.

Entrance to Jerusalem Israel Aquarium

However, the new Jerusalem Aquarium which is further down the road from the zoo might be one of the last sites to be fully open again to the public.

At the end of January 2020, I finally got to the Aquarium.

I have had it on my list to share and now seems like the right time.

Remember that cute video of penguins walking around an aquarium after it was closed?

Sorry. It was not the Jerusalem Aquarium but could have been.

Near entrance to Jerusalem Aquarium

The Jerusalem Aquarium is an accessible and temperature-controlled space.

The inside venue would have been perfect for a hot summer day visit for all ages.

Fish tank in Jerusalem Aquarium

Beautiful tanks of fish and underwater flora line the walls.

Sections are divided according to Israel’s local bodies of water.

Dead Sea section of Jerusalem Aquarium

The Dead Sea exhibit will have to be updated.

Recently they have found life in the freshwater sinkholes.

Sea Horses in Jerusalem Aquarium

I could have spent hours watching the seahorses.

Large fish tank in Jerusalem Aquarium

There was an area to take a break and rest and listen to trained guides.

Jerusalem Aquarium long horn cowfish

Have you heard of the LongHorn Cowfish before?

Elmo exhibit at Jerusalem Aquarium

Can you find Nemo? Especially for children of any age or size, there is a special tank. You can get inside to search for and be photographed with the real fish that famous animated feature  Nemo was based on.

Jerusalem Aquarium

Coral reefs provide background in one of the seas.

Large fish in tank at Jerusalem Aquarium

Large tanks of large fish,

Colorful fish in Jerusalem Aquarium

and small tanks of colorful fish are inside the Aquarium.

There’s much more to see and to do to keep all ages engaged.

Jerusalem Aquarium

It was a wet wintry-like day when I finally got to the two-year-old tourist site for the first time.

Sure hope it is not another two years until the giant seahorse outside greets visitors.

Who could imagine that an enclosed and interactive space would be a problem?

Large and small roses in a vase

At least the cold wet weather and this most unusual spring was good for the roses.

Stay well and healthy.

Hope to see you all on the Jerusalem streets one day soon.

 

11 thoughts on “Jerusalem Moving Outside – but Aquarium?

  • May 4, 2020 at 10:27 am
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    The most unusual part of the aquarium is that it is probably the only one in the world that explains about which fish are kosher and why.

    Reply
    • May 4, 2020 at 11:21 am
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      Oh yes, I doubt you can learn that very few other places in the world. Take care.

      Reply
  • May 4, 2020 at 10:48 am
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    Thank you Sharon SO much for the view outside in Jerusalem…2nd best thing to being there!

    Reply
    • May 4, 2020 at 11:21 am
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      Thanks! Stay well.

      Reply
  • May 4, 2020 at 5:29 pm
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    Those cute penguins were walking around the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Having been to both aquariums, I prefer Jerusalem for its sense of place and history, it’s quiet and reflective and without a Disney style aquatic show, even though those cute penguins do a walk on!

    Reply
    • May 5, 2020 at 4:35 am
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      Interesting, thank you. I have never been to the Chicago Aquarium to compare. But the Fairy Penguins in southern Australia were quite an attraction.

      Reply
  • May 4, 2020 at 9:09 pm
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    I haven’t spoken with you in a long time but I always read your upbeat, beautiful descriptions of our golden city of Yerushalyaim. Your photos are stunning, your descriptions straight on – no exaggerations needed as in other countries. You show the truth to the world which probably thinks everything is photoshopped like “our cousins” photos from Pallywood. Keep it up, girlfriend. You are good. Oh, and the wedding was put together in 4 days and was fabulous. Small, very informal, leibidik and a simcha and nes to behold. Zemira put together a sheva brochos for the young couple in 2 hours. This country is full of miracles! Be safe, be well.

    Reply
    • May 5, 2020 at 4:37 am
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      Thank you. Thank you! First for encouraging comment. Secondly Mazel tov! So happy to hear it worked out in a world with too much bad news.

      Reply
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