Jerusalem Night Run

rjstreets

 December 12, 2011 was the first run of the Jerusalem Night Run.

A sign in Mamilla Mall showed the way to the race starting point.

Maps of the route were posted,

as the run was not around the walls of the Old City, but on city streets.

Runners signed up and received an official yellow race shirt

in a special tent in the plaza outside Jaffa Gate.

A dry, but cold night, cups of complimentary hot tea were really appreciated.

An aerobic warm up to loud music for runners before the race,

got even more attention from the press when a Santa decided to loosen up.

As the last taxi left the Old City and the road was closed to traffic,

a blue carpet was laid to the official starting line.

Mayor Nir Barkat and his wife Beverly were front and center,

 but he was not smiling as he looked at his watch.

The 10 kilometer race was to start at 8:00pm “sharp”.

The runners were ready at the starting line on time,

but had to wait another ten minutes for the race to begin.

Over a 1000 runners ran to the starting line

and down the road on the Jerusalem Night Run.

The plaza area was mostly empty during the run,

 the tent with runners’  backpacks was full.

Most spectators did not hang around in the dark and cold

to watch for the runners to return.

The Jerusalem Night Run was advertised to be a warm up

to the Jerusalem Marathon in March.

Warm up…  now that sounds really nice.

More pictures from the Night Run can be found at this Facebook link:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.288863494489796.67021.152997821409698&type=1

Jerusalem Light Rail Rolls (Roils) On

rjstreets

Dear Angry Driver,

Please do not complain that you received a traffic ticket in Jerusalem

  because you were on the light rail tracks when the light turned red.

For too many years, too many Jerusalem streets looked like this.

It is a big deal for us in Jerusalem to finally be able to get anywhere…

even though it may take still a very long time.

Luckily only one man has been seriously injured, in this area of the tracks…so far.

As you sit in your private vehicle, we are standing on the train without room to move,

that is, assuming that we can elbow our way inside.

For the first few months of operation the Light Rail train ride was free of charge,

but as of December 1, 2011, we get to pay for the privilege.

One has to get through the crowd to swipe their Rav-Kav card on this machine

before a roving inspector arrives to scan your card to check for payment.

Dear Angry Driver, there is also a large fine for those who haven’t paid their fare.

At least CitiPass employed a small army to help educate the suffering public,

most are ignorant about how to put money on those Rav-Kav plastic cards.

You must  not remember the Jaffa Street of the last few years,

as the new Jaffa Street scene bears little resemblance to it.

But in constantly changing Jerusalem… this tranquil scene will not last for long.

This corner of King George and Jaffa Streets, which housed Sbarro before a

suicide bomber blew himself up murdering fifteen people, is slated for renovation.

The major construction mess of a multistory building will be upon us once again.

And Angry Driver…be happy you only got ONE ticket.

There are several locations in Jerusalem where teams of police

 regularly wait and pull over car after car and ticket the drivers.

You didn’t see the one white car that got through with the taxis,

while both police officers were busy writing up tickets on each side.

Wonder if he had any idea of just how lucky he was?

Dear Angry Driver, maybe you could tell him?

Tour de Jerusalem

rjstreets

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