attractive tourist destination – Page 162 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Things Mainstream Media Won’t Tell You

June 11, 2013rjstreets

It is that time of year.

All over Israel there are end of school year celebrations.

These events start soon after the Shavuot holiday ends

and go until the end of June when school is out for the summer.

Most performances are put on for families and friends and become

true extravaganzas that rival the Israel Festival Jerusalem programs.

The Jerusalem Theater hosts many of the musical programs

of this May-June annual cultural festival.

This year new venues were added to the program.

Though the English on this sign is a bit curious,

I was anxious to see the results of the extensive renovations

to the old Hansen Hospital.

People were lined up early at the main entrance,

which went through the gardens.

However, this is as close as I could get.

The guard would not let me in to take even one photo.

But I had no time to stay and argue.

I was on my way to opening of the Jerusalem Light Festival

and the Hebrew Book Week in Liberty Bell Park.

And there is more.

Signs are all over for special sporting events.

The European Soccer Under-21 Championship is being held in Israel.

And Formula One sports cars are on display.

The cars are to run on the Jerusalem streets from the new First Station

on a route near the Old City on Thursday afternoon and Friday.

Preparations are well under way for next week’s huge

Israeli Presidential Conference at the Jerusalem Conference Center.

There is so much happening in Jerusalem this time of year.

So it’s no surprise that in May tourism in Jerusalem hit an all time high.

However, the mainstream media continues to ignore the good stuff.

Hebrew Book Week in Jerusalem Warning

June 10, 2013rjstreets

The sirens of the motorcade of

Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, President of Colombia

can be heard on the Jerusalem, Israel streets

and the flag of Colombia can be seen flying.

Most people will never notice.

But what is amazing is that after so many years,

and now with so many Israeli tech users and kindle readers,

Hebrew Book Week in Jerusalem is back in the Liberty Bell Park.

Thousands of books and at least one hot-pot are ready for

Shavuah Hasefer, the annual Hebrew book fair that runs from June 5-13.

There were fewer book vendors in the park this year.

But every night, many children

helped fill the park.

Everyone was out looking for a good deal on Hebrew books.

As every year, in the park there was also free entertainment for children.

This one young man was ready to get up and move to the music.

Passing on the love of books and reading is an old tradition.

But look past this book vendor and you will see

viewing stands being set up for

the Formula One Peace Car Run in Jerusalem.

Not sure everyone will appreciate the streets closing

and noise of what some want to be a new tradition.

Jerusalem Lights 2013

June 6, 2013rjstreets

Jerusalem, Israel is once again hosting an international

festival of lights in The Old City.

Opening night attracted tens of thousands of people.

Young and old, foreign visitors,

and all of Jerusalem’s diverse population were represented.

Thousands had cameras, and countless

photographers were armed with tripods to get perfect night shots.

As usual the problem is deciding which trail to follow first.

I decided to start with the blue trail

which went through the streets of the Christian Quarter.

I want to share a few of my favorites.

So let’s start with

the impressive Israeli light display in the Cardo.

I confess that I had to consult my map on this one.

Heinz Kasper used plastic bottles in this piece which was displayed

in front of the Hurva Synagogue in the Rova, Jewish Quarter.

In another courtyard in the Rova,

the light displayed on this building along with music,

Ocubo’s Garden of our Dreams, from Portugal was popular.

The Israeli created changing colored lights with music

on the archeological park was impressive.

But nearby, as alway the Kotel, the Western Wall

lit at night was an impressive sight.

This moving ballerina was popular to video.

“Tree of LIfe” was displayed on Shar Shechem, Damascus Gate.

I thought the pinball machine there last year was more clever.

There were many light displays along the streets of the Old City,

and it is very hard to see all three trails in one night.

But I am so glad that friends told me not to miss the cave.

At the end of the green trail was Zedekiah’s Cave.

Deep under ground, from Holland was “Lotus Dome.”

However, the colored lights along the natural walls were stunning.

The Arab media was at Damascus Gate.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat was doing live radio from Jaffa Gate.

“Les Lumineoles” from France floated in the sky near Jaffa Gate,

with the illuminated walls of The Old City in the distance.

Jerusalem was a city of lights of the world to the world.