tourism – Page 64 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Formula One – Peace Road Show Photos

June 16, 2013rjstreets

Jerusalem came to a stop for two days,

as thousands upon thousands of people came to see,

this Ferrari Formula One race car.

Some people paid a fee and sat in the stands constructed for

the Jerusalem Formula One Peace Road Show.

Special video cameras recorded the event,

which was projected on screens at several locations along the track.

Several Ferrari GT Challenge

sports

cars

and a black Lotus LMPZ zoomed around the track.

Each lap took these cars around two minutes,

but this was a show, not a race.

Many residents were furious that so many streets were closed,

but people came early and from all over to find a good spot.

Large crowds could be found

at every one of the free vantage points,

from high on top of walls of The Old City

to along the street across from the Liberty Bell Park.

Huge crowds lined the track both days.

Remember that guy on top of the bus stop?

The only “action” from the sports cars,

a deliberate smoke producing spin took place in front of us.

He had the front row seat and got the shot

and it was so loud, I still do not have normal hearing in one ear.

The Formula Peace Road show was promoted for the racing cars,

but there were also motorcycles,

and by all accounts the show stopping favorite

was the dare-devil stunt routine of Chris Pfeiffer on a BMW 6800R.

And as always, I thought that the police horses were beautiful.

Was this Jerusalem Formula Peace Road Show

worth all the inconvenience?

Getting stuck on the inside of the track,

it took me over an hour to walk what is normally a ten minute distance.

One girl I saw was literally in tears trying to get to her destination.

Some loved it, some thought it was a total waste of time.

I do know, it was a very diverse crowd and there was no violence.

And Italian race car drivers,

Ragazzi Riccardo (left) who drove a Ferrari GT Challenge 430

and Daniel Mancinelle who drove a Ferrari GT Challenge 458

were very excited and happy to be in Jerusalem for the first time.

And I know a lot more about race cars.

Who would have thought that would happen in Jerusalem, Israel !

More photos on The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page, HERE.

And Ferrari video from on the car, and more see HERE.

Things Mainstream Media Won’t Tell You

June 11, 2013rjstreets

It is that time of year.

All over Israel there are end of school year celebrations.

These events start soon after the Shavuot holiday ends

and go until the end of June when school is out for the summer.

Most performances are put on for families and friends and become

true extravaganzas that rival the Israel Festival Jerusalem programs.

The Jerusalem Theater hosts many of the musical programs

of this May-June annual cultural festival.

This year new venues were added to the program.

Though the English on this sign is a bit curious,

I was anxious to see the results of the extensive renovations

to the old Hansen Hospital.

People were lined up early at the main entrance,

which went through the gardens.

However, this is as close as I could get.

The guard would not let me in to take even one photo.

But I had no time to stay and argue.

I was on my way to opening of the Jerusalem Light Festival

and the Hebrew Book Week in Liberty Bell Park.

And there is more.

Signs are all over for special sporting events.

The European Soccer Under-21 Championship is being held in Israel.

And Formula One sports cars are on display.

The cars are to run on the Jerusalem streets from the new First Station

on a route near the Old City on Thursday afternoon and Friday.

Preparations are well under way for next week’s huge

Israeli Presidential Conference at the Jerusalem Conference Center.

There is so much happening in Jerusalem this time of year.

So it’s no surprise that in May tourism in Jerusalem hit an all time high.

However, the mainstream media continues to ignore the good stuff.

Jerusalem Lights 2013

June 6, 2013rjstreets

Jerusalem, Israel is once again hosting an international

festival of lights in The Old City.

Opening night attracted tens of thousands of people.

Young and old, foreign visitors,

and all of Jerusalem’s diverse population were represented.

Thousands had cameras, and countless

photographers were armed with tripods to get perfect night shots.

As usual the problem is deciding which trail to follow first.

I decided to start with the blue trail

which went through the streets of the Christian Quarter.

I want to share a few of my favorites.

So let’s start with

the impressive Israeli light display in the Cardo.

I confess that I had to consult my map on this one.

Heinz Kasper used plastic bottles in this piece which was displayed

in front of the Hurva Synagogue in the Rova, Jewish Quarter.

In another courtyard in the Rova,

the light displayed on this building along with music,

Ocubo’s Garden of our Dreams, from Portugal was popular.

The Israeli created changing colored lights with music

on the archeological park was impressive.

But nearby, as alway the Kotel, the Western Wall

lit at night was an impressive sight.

This moving ballerina was popular to video.

“Tree of LIfe” was displayed on Shar Shechem, Damascus Gate.

I thought the pinball machine there last year was more clever.

There were many light displays along the streets of the Old City,

and it is very hard to see all three trails in one night.

But I am so glad that friends told me not to miss the cave.

At the end of the green trail was Zedekiah’s Cave.

Deep under ground, from Holland was “Lotus Dome.”

However, the colored lights along the natural walls were stunning.

The Arab media was at Damascus Gate.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat was doing live radio from Jaffa Gate.

“Les Lumineoles” from France floated in the sky near Jaffa Gate,

with the illuminated walls of The Old City in the distance.

Jerusalem was a city of lights of the world to the world.