Traffic filled the Jerusalem streets last week.
First, there were major international conferences
![IMG_8030e "photo limousine", "image limo", "picture limousine"](http://s629411786.onlinehome.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/img_8030e.jpg)
with motorcades and official limousines and sirens.
Vladimir Putin was in Jerusalem for only one day,
but he caused a traffic mess of presidential proportions.
![IMG_8188 "photo Russian flag", "image welcome sign", "picture Russia flag'](http://s629411786.onlinehome.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/img_8188.jpg)
The Russian flags welcoming him to Jerusalem were still flying after he left.
Schools held countless end-of-year performances for families,
making driving unpredictable and parking sometimes impossible.
The usual was bad enough, but wait–it got worse.
![IMG_5905 "picture Jerusalem", 'Photo Jerusalem", Image Jerusalem"](http://s629411786.onlinehome.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/img_5905.jpg)
The Promenades of the Tayelet are perfect for views
![IMG_5908 "picture Jerusalem", "image Jerusalem", "photo Al Quds](http://s629411786.onlinehome.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/img_5908.jpg)
of the Old City Walls.
In May,
![IMG_5909 "photo fire" "image fire Jerusalem", "picture smoke"](http://s629411786.onlinehome.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/img_5909.jpg)
smoke could be seen from several fires below the Tayelet,
![IMG_5911 "picture smoke". "photo Jerusalem", "image Silwan"](http://s629411786.onlinehome.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/img_5911.jpg)
but they did not spread.
![IMG_5913e](http://s629411786.onlinehome.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/img_5913e2.jpg)
Recently, however, there have been multiple fires in the area.
Last week the main Route #1 into Jerusalem was shut down
while firefighters worked to put out fires and
thousands of people were stuck in traffic for hours.
![IMG_8167 "picture wild fire", "photo smoke", Image fire"](http://s629411786.onlinehome.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/img_8167.jpg)
There have also been less serious fires that do not make the news.
Traffic came to a stop for one such fire near Kiryat Gat,
![IMG_8173 "plane photo", "image plane", "picture plane"](http://s629411786.onlinehome.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/img_8173.jpg)
while planes circled above.
We were able to turn around and take another route back to Jerusalem,
so I do not know how long it took to re-open the road.
The funeral for former Prime Minister Shamir is later today,
and it could be a traffic disaster of Prime Ministerial proportions.
Major construction on Route #1 is scheduled to start soon,
so we are in for years of serious traffic nightmares.
Bad traffic situations ahead seem to be a certainty,
![IMG_0123 Photo cigerette","](http://s629411786.onlinehome.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/img_0123.jpg)
but surely we can put an end to some of the dangerous fires.