Jerusalem’s Changing Landscapes

Jerusalem’s Changing Landscapes

The landscape of Jerusalem, Israel, is constantly changing,

photo Jerusalem bus station, picture Jerusalem, image Jerusalem skyline bridge

with new structures

image Holyland, photo building Jerusalem, picture Jerusalem  Holyland

towering over the old.

image Cinema City Jerusalem, photo new cinema Jerusalem, picture Cinema City Jerusalem

Just before the bad weather began in December,

workers were busy on top of new Cinema City Complex.

image GAn SAcher, photo SAcker park, picture park

Remember the old photos of Gan Sacher, Sacher Park?

This is the scene now, 

photo Sacher park, image Jerusalem, picture Cinema City, image snow damage

with those large trees cut back to tall stumps.

But it does allow a clear view of the roof and foot bridge

and the future train station at the Cinema City Complex.

Israel has long been known as land “flowing of milk and honey,”

photo mulcher, image storm cleanup, photo snow damage Jerusalem

but Jerusalem now seems to have become the city of ‘flowing mulch.’

While the snow has finally melted, 

picture tree clean up, image after snow cleanup, photo tree trim

the mountains of tree trimmings are still being collected

and being churned up into mountains of mulch.

image firewood in truck, picture man collecting firewood. photo fire wood

However, no fire-wood logs seem to stay around for long.

picture protest banners. image signs for protest, photo banner out prime ministers house

The protesters of prisoner release have gone from the streets,

and their signs are removed.

image protesters Jerusalem, photo migrant protest, picture protesters Jerusalem

Bus loads of protesters have arrived from Tel Aviv to protest

the detention and deportation of illegal foreign workers.

The Jerusalem streets are constantly changing.

Shabbat Shalom

I was going to use this view of Gan Sacher, Sacher Park

blanketed in the fresh snow last week,

but the power went out before I could post it.

Shabbat shalom image, picture Shabat shalom winter, photo Jerusalem park in snow Shabbat

Not your usual Jerusalem erev Shabbat scene,

not your usual week with half a meter of snow.

After a week so cold that the clock froze,

there is still snow on the ground, but

looking forward to a much warmer Shabbat.

Shabbat shalom to all.

After Jerusalem Snow of Century Clean Up Time

While the rest of Israel and world goes about its business, 

in and around Jerusalem it is not back to normal yet.

image Jerusalem snow, Israel snow photo, picture Jerusalem snow clean up

Snow and fallen trees are piled higher than a bus stop.

This is just #blizzrael – Blizzard – Israel – Unreal.

If you have lived through a large snow storm,

image snow Jerusalem, photo snow pile, Israel picture snow

then you are familiar with these grey piles of plowed mess on street corners,

image Jerusalem snow, picture snow Israel, photo how much snow Jerusalem, snow clean up

 trying to walk around them, 

image Jerusalem snow, Israel snow photo, picture snow cleanup

and sharing the space on the cleared streets with slow traffic.

But this is Jerusalem, Israel, not Boston, Buffalo or Brooklyn,

image snow in Jerusalem, photo snow Israel, picture snow

so there are plenty of palm branches on the ground too.

image snow Jerusalem, Picture snow Israel, How much snow photo

Another difference, people here do not leave a piece of furniture 

on the street hoping to save their parking spot.

Most of the pretty white images from yesterday are gone.

There was one pretty scene in front of Beit Hanassi, the President’s residence,

image streets covered snow Jerusalem, photo Israel snow, picture snow clean up

I guess the President’s staff gave up on clearing the sidewalk,

hoping the sun would do the work for them.

It was warming up finally,

image Jerusalem snow, picture snow Jerusalem, photos Israel snow

and this man was out in shorts.

image cat Jerusalem, photo cat after snow Israel, Picture cat on wall

The Jerusalem cats were back in their favorite spots,

image of snow Jerusalem, photo snow in Israel, picture snow cleanup

but the Paris Square Fountain was not flowing.

I have dozens more not-so-pretty photos of mountains of snow,

but I won’t bore you with so many of them.

snow Jerusalem image, picture snow cleanup israel., photo Bobcat

The clean up equipment was out, 

image snow cleanup Israel, Jerusalem snow photo.

only I always seem to find them on a break.

It is still a great time for tree-trimmers who work with large chain saws.

Along with the sounds of cars honking in blocked traffic,

is the welcome sound of buzzing of chain saws.

image Jerusalem snow, picture Jerusalem snow, snow clean up picture.

Just look at the amount and size of some of timber that was cut

and left in front of the Jerusalem Theater.

Now is a good time to collect wood for your fireplaces.

image Jerusalem snow, photo snow Jerusalem, picture snow cleanup

With so many scenes like this one on Emek Refaim Street,

picture jerusalem snow, image snowy steps, Israel snow

and these dangerous snowy and icy walkways,

image runners before race, photo runners ready, picture Afikim

it is no wonder that a few guys’ crazy idea to run to Eilat,

doesn’t seem so crazy anymore.

image Afikim run, picture Jerusalem night, Image race start

That is confetti not snow, as the runners 

left First Station at the start of their 36 hour, 360 km relay race.

Good luck guys!

We finally got full power back after a week,

so as long as it lasts I am going to 

keep my feet dry 

and hibernate.