The sun is shining.
The sky is blue,
and it is warm enough to open the windows.
The snow has melted and it is history,
except for some ugly piles of plowed black stuff
and fallen branches that need to be removed.
February used to be the “quiet” time,
down time between holidays and peak tourism seasons,
but not this February,
and it was hard to keep up with all that is much happening.
This week the Jewish Agency for Israel had a meeting
of its Board of Governors, with delegates coming
from around the world to Jerusalem, Israel.
The International chess championship may not be a great photo op,
but a tour with 500 tourism professionals from India certainly was.
Starting with the view from Hebrew University on Mt Scopus,
this tour went to The Old City.
Within a few minutes while standing outside
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
were other groups of Indian tourists,
a large orderly group of Estonians,
and these Christian pilgrims who left too fast to ask where they were from.
Another great view and new to me,
was the Jerusalem Winner Marathon 2105 launch,
on the grounds of the St. Andrew’s Guest House.
Mayor Nir Barkat, holding his official run shirt for the March 13 race,
was all smiles that morning.
But so was Ilanit Melchior,
Tourism Director at the Jerusalem Development Authority.
Though many residents resent the street closings and inconvenience,
this event has brought thousands of tourists
from all over the world each year.
There are signs for things as diverse as
a contest for app developers,
and special programs for children at Islamic Museum.
But, Purim is a week away.
Perhaps, this sign for Shavuot holiday is a joke.
There is to be a Purim Spiel at the Train Theater,
and a sign for reading the Megillah at First Station–
Happy Purim.
Then,
time for that other “P” word – Passover!
