Knesset – Page 10 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Stormy Weather in Jerusalem

January 7, 2013rjstreets

I thought you would never believe it, if you did not see it for yourself.

Finally, there is something that everyone in Jerusalem, Israel,

can agree on – this is really stormy weather

and trying to stay dry is most important today.

Often winter weather gets stormy and foggy,

with grey skies like these.

This kind of grey weather does not make for pretty photos,

though maybe interesting ones of trees were blowing sideways.

When the fog comes in,

the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Chord Bridge disappear from view.

Just before this wind storm and rain started,

I marveled at how beautiful the stars were last night in a perfectly clear sky.

I knew I would be sorry for not taking a photo of the planetarium overhead.

On a such stormy day like this,

it seems the Israeli flag over the Knesset is about the only thing looking good,

besides a nice hot drink.

Now as long as the power stays on…

and if it gets cold enough for snow…

everyone loves to see Jerusalem, Israel, covered in white,

and those photos will be much prettier than these.

The sun just came out for a few minutes,

but that does not mean the weather is clearing so fast.

Now it looks like the Crowne Plaza was Photoshopped out,

time to get a hot drink.

Ready to Celebrate Israel’s 64th Independence Day

April 24, 2012rjstreets

If you are not in Jerusalem this week

you are missing out on a very special time,

as Jerusalem gets ready for Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day.

The weather has been cool and sunny during the day, with clear blue skies,

as the streets fill with blue and white Israeli flags.

At major intersections someone is usually selling flags for car windows.

Even Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu stopped his motorcade to buy a flag.

It is reported that he gave the seller a 5 shekel tip.

I wonder how you report that for taxes?

As you can see,

in some neighborhoods business has been very good this year.

This flag was one I had not seen before. It reads “God, He is King.”

The long Israeli flags are flying and ready for Independence Day,

but yesterday I was lucky to see…

the dress rehearsal of planes as they flew over

the Knesset Building

and the Israel Museum.

They were fast, loud and high in the sky as they flew away from Jerusalem.

There was time for one photo as they were coming towards me,

just before they split from their perfect formation.

This morning, the sad music on the radio has begun…

for first we will experience the flames and tears of Yom Hazikaron,

Remembrance Day for the fallen soldiers and victims of terror.

After remembering those lost in war and to terror attacks,

then it will be time to celebrate Israel’s 64th Independence Day.

Rain, rain

November 22, 2011rjstreets

At first it was hard to decide what to write about his week,

since threats seem to be coming from all directions.

The death toll is rising in Syria as violent protests continue.

In Cairo there are more casualties and democratic elections seem elusive.

New demonstrations are taking place in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Reports are coming in of CIA undercover agents being arrested in Iran and Lebanon.

And locally, the doctors’ struggle continues

and the light rail drivers still have not agreed on their wages.

In the meantime, a long list of political and celebrity visitors were in Jerusalem.

But the focus of the real streets has not been celebrity sightings,

political strife or the lack of Supreme Court Justices,

it has been rain, and lots of it.

A break in the weather with the sun peeking through was a rare sight this week.

The rain is great for the lime tree at the end of its season,

but does not make for good photography.

The Knesset looks grey in the rain,

while the walls and smoke from the Israel Museum blend into the horizon.

Water filling the streets make it difficult to drive

and traffic often slows down.

Figuring out when and how hard it will rain, how to stay dry,

and how to avoid the puddles

has been a challenge.

But not for everyone….there are those little people who love each new splash.

Prayers for rain have been answered.

After last year’s dry and mild winter, this has been a wet week,

and it is getting colder, making it difficult to stay dry and warm.

While there is plenty of complaining about getting wet,

no one is singing “rain, rain go away” yet.

It was cold enough for a winter jacket, hat and scarf today,

see Tourist of the Week…gotta love the Canadians!