I had to go into the Old City today and discovered that Jerusalem Day (yesterday) festivities were still going on full swing. A big blue stage was up just outside the Jaffa Gate.
Men were setting up all kinds of sound equipment and stuff.
The walkway along the city wall was decorated with banners.
Just inside the Jaffa Gate the crowds began: foreign tourists, Israeli visitors, youth movement members, classes of school kids with their teachers. At least the same bagel seller was there. Yum--soft hot bageleh with sesame seeds, complete with a folded up strip of newspaper holding the green za'atar spice in which to dip the bread.
And more from Psalm 122
I escaped the crowds by turning off into the lanes of the Christian Quarter and the Muslim Quarter usually walked only by the people who live there. Taking the road less traveled by made all the difference. Lots of good photos were just waiting to be taken.
Men were setting up all kinds of sound equipment and stuff.
The walkway along the city wall was decorated with banners.
Just inside the Jaffa Gate the crowds began: foreign tourists, Israeli visitors, youth movement members, classes of school kids with their teachers. At least the same bagel seller was there. Yum--soft hot bageleh with sesame seeds, complete with a folded up strip of newspaper holding the green za'atar spice in which to dip the bread.
And more from Psalm 122
I escaped the crowds by turning off into the lanes of the Christian Quarter and the Muslim Quarter usually walked only by the people who live there. Taking the road less traveled by made all the difference. Lots of good photos were just waiting to be taken.
The bagels sound delicious! Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Jaffa known for delicious oranges too? a little mundane in light of your post, but I was wondering...
ReplyDeletegreat photos!
I look at your photos and start to hum "the Holy City" a Christian song usually done as a solo. Thank you for sharing these wonderful glimpses of a city we have all heard and sung about from childhood.
ReplyDeleteThank you again Dina for the education and the wonderful photographs from so far away...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these lovely photos. That description of the bagel made me hungry....
ReplyDeleteIt certainly looks like a major production. That stage is huge! I particularly like the look of the inscribed stone in that last picture. I think if I were standing there reading it in person, I would weep.
ReplyDeleteFor a photographer the road less traveled often is most rewarding. Nice group of photos today. Wish I had one of the bagels about now!
ReplyDeleteit's a tourist haven. the poeple looks like they're going on all directions.
ReplyDeleteIt's a peaceful Jerusalem you've shown us.can you tell us what was written on the stone? Thanks for showing.
ReplyDeleteShalom chaverim (friends),
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming on the walk with me.
Chuck, Chrisss, D--Wish I could send you all a bageleh. Better yet, come in person.
Noni--right, Jaffa oranges are exported to the world. In the horse and wagon days, the dirt road started in the ancient port of Jaffa (on the Mediterranean) and ended at the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem. Hence the gate's name. That's 60 km or ~35 miles as the crow flys.
Birdlady--Now you've got ME singing it too, or the 5 words of it I know: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem. . . Hosanna, in the highest, hosanna for evermore."
Michelle--Hope soon Jerusalem won't see so far away.
Chuck--"Photographer" is too big a word to describe me. I just put it on automatic, point and shoot, and hope for the best. hehe
Dong--You're right. Jerusalem needs her tourists but yesterday the Old City was way too crowded for me.
Elaine--I'd like to stand in front of the stone and weep with you.
Many places here move me to tears, even after 40 years in the country.
Wil--The top of the stone is the Hebrew for "Our feet are standing within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem, that art builded as a city that is compact together." From Psalm 122. At the bottom is thanks to the generosity of Milton Freund, the donor. Clicking on the photo should make at least the English big enough to read.
and i cant wait to see those good photos!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed my trip here so much. The photos are beautiful and you are right, taking that road made all the difference.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
Thanks for sharing !
ReplyDeleteMiss Yves