When Shakespeare wrote
that ‘the whole world is a stage,’
somehow I do not think a cheese shop
or fruit and vegetable stand was what he had in mind.
However, the Israeli Opera had
performers in Machane Yehuda Market,
the shuk on Monday singing arias.
The man selling nuts was smiling,
as was the green grocer across the way.
So was I after they found my cell phone.
Trying to get a good shot with so many photographers
pushing in the crowded and narrow alleyways,
I almost lost my phone there.
There was more than one place used as a stage,
some shoppers were determined to keep going,
while others in the market became part of the show.
“L’elisir d’amore” by Gaetnao Donizetti
is to be performed in the Sultan’s Pool the end of June,
and some Jerusalem shoppers got a preview.
As cameras rolled,
one girl in the crowd was serenaded to by this opera singer,
but after an hour the surprise show was over,
and it was back to time for holiday preparations.
Mountains of fresh garlic have arrived in the shuk
and piles of fresh fruits and vegetable are ready,
and one fresh fish store was really popular.
I loved this sign,
this store is ready for Passover and
NO ONE is to bring in anything that is not for Passover.
Now if only my house was nearly as ready.
