Jerusalem – Page 154 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

US Vice-President Biden Returns to Jerusalem

March 10, 2016rjstreets

US Vice-President Joe Biden was in town this week.

When he visited five years ago,

it was a blog-worthy occasion, a very no-frills visit,

as compared to a US Presidential visit to Jerusalem, Israel.

But this visit was not like last time.

The big red no-parking signs were not warnings for the

upcoming Jerusalem Marathon street closings,

but for Vice-President Biden’s visit to

President Reuven Rivlin at Beit Hanasi,

the official residence of the Israeli President.

The red carpet was unfurled,

and for an extra layer of security, this blue tarp was erected.

Flags, flowers and podiums were arranged.

Hamentashen were among the sweets served to munch.

There was a long delay and wait,

because the VP stayed longer than planned

with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Finally, it was show time.

Key players were in their positions.

The motorcade arrived.

A huge US vehicle with DC license plates

and adorned with US and Israeli flags

pulled up along the carpet with swarms of security,

and the United States Vice-President.

International press lined the way ready to report.

Such coordination,

even their ties matched.

I was late for a meeting and left after the speeches,

right after the official hand shake.

The waiting cars of the motorcade filled the driveway,

while security shades blocked the view.

This was a full scale production,

everyone knew that Joe Biden was here this time.

And don’t you know it,

as soon as I turned around to leave there she was–

another one of those Arab girls!

Crazy layers of security, a street lined with police cars,

bomb squads whose photos I cannot share,

and there was an Arab girl having a driving lesson.

Winter Noise in Jerusalem

March 2, 2016rjstreets

Jerusalem, Israel has festivals:

Light Festivals, Sound Festivals, Knight Festivals,

and in February, שאון חורף or the Winter Noise festival.

It happens on four Mondays nights in February,

each time in a different location, and it lasts

until the wee hours of the morning.

This year the final event was on Azza Street.

Along the 20 stops of the route

there were hula hoops,

a man selling hats next to a fire juggler,

and these ‘what-ever they are’ characters.

Lectures were in the pizza shop,

and in the drug store too.

Each venue had people lined up to get inside.

The book store was open and people inside.

There was classical music

with Capoeira across the road,

and more musicians down the way.

Around the corner on Ben Maimon Street

was a stage for entertainment until almost dawn.

Singer Zion Golan had a stage and crowd in the small Azza Park,

and the #9 bus had trouble getting by the crowd

that was listening to piyutim on the corner of Metudela.

People were drinking, eating,

enjoying, and just strolling,

next to buildings illuminated

with colorful lights.

I heard someone talking about the “Magic Carpet”

and I thought I had missed something.

Cute photo I thought, but what are they doing?

What selfie was he taking?

Only when I got home and saw all the photos

did I realize that the man sitting on ground

in front of the green background screen

was the same man whose image was projected

on the wall across the street, flying on the magic carpet.

Wow.

So clever.

Never know what you will find on

or flying over the Jerusalem, Israel streets.

One Day to the Next in Jerusalem

February 24, 2016rjstreets

In this crazy, sometimes upside-down place called Jerusalem, Israel,

one day can be so different to the next.

Yesterday, it was cold and wet and rainy.

The President of Kenya came for an official visit,

stood on a red carpet next to the President of Israel,

outside at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli president’s official residence,

as the morning rain was falling.

The national anthems were played.

It was cold and wet, but

the honor guard stood at attention with raindrops falling off them.

Yesterday I was under my umbrella trying to stay dry,

the sky was foggy and grey.

Then the next morning it was hot and sunny.

A beautiful day to be outside,

it was like summer in Gan Ha’atzmaut, Independence Park.

People were eating outside in Ben Yehuda cafes

and strolling along Jaffa Road,

with the new Mashbir rising above Zion Square.

Renovation is under way on the old Mashbir building on King George Street,

after a serious fire around Sukkot time.

WeWork is coming to this site in Jerusalem, Israel,

so stay tuned for more innovation for the start up nation

sure to come from this venture.

While this art display is not as popular as the umbrellas of last year,

people were out on Yoel Salomon Street today.

As I walked home,

I passed the work at the future Museum of Tolerance,

and the flowers lining the Horse Park.

Not sure what will happen tomorrow,

but next week,

an ice skating rink will open in Cinema City.

One day to the next,

you can never sure what you will find on the streets

of Jerusalem, Israel.