Surprise clouds at sunset

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Not just here in the Negev desert, but all over Israel, July has been crazy hot.
One heat wave after another with no respite.
Temps in the high 30s (near 100 degrees F) in the shade (if you can find any shade). 
Even our nights are too warm, which is not normal. 

During my sunset walk I was treated to these strange clouds and, mercifully, the breeze began to blow. 
Our summer skies do not often have any clouds.
And the long hot rainless summer can last for eight months.  

Shabbat shalom! 
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(Linking to SkyWatch Friday.)
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Siamese-twin peaches

Summer in the Negev desert is a long hot and dry season that tries one's soul.
Will it ever end?
About the only good, refreshing thing about Israel summer is the many kinds of fruit that flood the shuk.
Even these Siamese-twin peaches.
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(I once read that  double peaches are thought to be caused by drought stress at the time of flower bud formation.)
UPDATE: I added an explanation in the Comments about how produce is sold in the open-air market or shuk.
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Symbolic and functional shpritzim

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During this hot Jerusalem summer, with every day in the 30s C, I envy the dome of the Shrine of the Book (of Dead Sea Scrolls fame) which gets a constant shower of cool water to keep the glazed terra cotta tile cladding from overheating.
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In this extremely interesting article about the Shrine of the Book, I learned that

Kiesler [the U.S. architect] himself intended for this to feel like a purification of sorts, akin to the mikvah, the ritual bath practice that originated with the Essenes before being adopted by mainstream Judaism. This is also reflected in the fountains that play against the dome.
Like the fact that the space is underground, the water feature also contributes to the maintenance of a cool interior in the extreme Jerusalem heat---and also likely contributes to wear on the tiles, necessitating their eventual replacement and repair.

More photos are at http://jerusalemhillsdailyphoto.blogspot.co.il/2010/08/reflecting-on-apocalyptic-imagination.html.
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Old-fashioned fun

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Hot hot hot. Our heat wave in Israel is lasting weeks this time.
So what's a grandma to do when three grandkids come visiting to my one-room house with no air conditioning?

Water play, outside! Dean turned on the hose.

Eyal filled up a plastic water bottle shpritzer and shpritzed us all.

Libby watered the grapevine and then took care of her big brother.

Luckily their mom, my smart daughter, had brought a change of clothes for each.

It doesn't take much to have fun and be happy together!
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Fig leaf shadows

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I was shooting into the setting sun to catch this shadow on a fig leaf cast by a neighboring leaf.

This was in June so the little figs you see on top are bigger now.
Or at least those figs that have not been eaten by birds, bats, worms, jackals, or hikers.
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Don't you love the delicate pattern of veins (seen when the photo is enlarged)?
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A post for Summer Stock Sunday and Shadow Shot Sunday.
Bon dimanche, a good Sunday to you all.
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Bees: life on the edge

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It's hot and dry the whole summer long in Israel and even bees have to search for a drink.
It might take some enlarging of the photo, but here's at least four bees quenching their thirst at my neighbors' birdbath.
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Be careful little critters, don't fall in and drown!
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The two on the right are making tiny shadows and one is even making ripple-shadows.

Hmm, this might be a triple-meme photo opp, for Camera Critters, Shadow Shot Sunday, and Summer Stock Sunday.
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P.S. Shadow Shot visitors, check out an earlier fun post with people shadows and our new tram.
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UPDATE: I should have quoted the 23rd Psalm to title this post:
"He leadeth me beside the still waters."
Like maybe deer, bees prefer to drink from quiet water. My neighbors have to turn off the fountain element of the birdbath just for the bees.
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Peace and solitude in the valley

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Is it a mourning dove?
This sweet bird didn't fly away when she saw me on my evening walk in the valley.
Maybe she knew we were birds of a feather.

Can you see her above the summer dryness of the Jerusalem Hills?
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The dove is for Camera Critters and the dry grasses are for Summer Stock Sunday.
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It is a big and sad contrast. Just a few hours drive to the south and west of here, missiles and rockets from Gaza are falling on Beersheba and communities of the Western Negev and on the Mediterranean coast cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon since yesterday.
This is the Palestinian reaction to Israel's retaliation on Gaza terrorist centers.
Our Air Force strikes came after Thursday's deadly terror strikes on the road to Eilat.
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Postcard-worthy Hills of Jerusalem

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The dry Jerusalem Hills of summer.
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The Jerusalem Hills are a hilly region in the Judean mountains, with Jerusalem nestling in the middle.

"This region is blessed with some 100 springs, in the valleys between the hills and on the hillsides. Most of the springs flow from cracks in rock formations and every one of them is a celebration of nature.
Many of the hillsides have ancient terraces built on them, silent testimony to ancient agricultural efforts.

Scattered among the hills are also the remains of agricultural settlements from the First Temple period (3,000 years ago); such as Khurvat Kfar Sum, farm houses and agricultural systems from the Second Temple and Roman-Byzantine periods, such as Sataf and Ein Khandak; and Crusader sites such as the church at Abu Ghosh, the Tsuba fortress and the Ein Khemed monastery.
The Jerusalem hills also have many sites commemorating the fierce battles waged here in the 1948 War of Independence, such as the Kastel in Mevaseret Tsiyon and the Burma Road."

From GoIsrael. More about our Hills at their webpage.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants. We City Daily Photo members are posting today on our August 1 theme, Postcard-worthy.
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This post is also for the round-the-world meme That's My World .
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Clever cat (and a horned altar!)

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In Israel's ancient deserts, boulders have long provided respite from the burning sun, for man and beast . . .
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Oh, wait . . . this was just the Hebrew U. Medical School campus at Hadassah Hospital.
But man, was it hot!
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You might have to enlarge the above photo to find the cat.

Here's the boulder "in situ."
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I never understand why they make the roofs of some bench and bus shelters like this.
It lets the rain or too much sun come through.
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Anyway, it's a fun picture for Camera-Critters, Summer Stock Sunday, and Shadow Shot Sunday.
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And here is something YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS! The blog of Tell Es-Safi/Gath Excavations announced their discovery of a horned stone altar from the Iron Age!
And then the archaeologist, Aren Maeir, made a hilarious aerial photo, using volunteers, shadows, and himself as the sacrificial lamb.
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Seeking shade and shadows

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Here is our tour group attentively listening to the guide, standing in the interesting shadows (for Shadow Shot Sunday) of a "viewing pergola."
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The Sherover Promenade was built in 1989.
Its architects describe it thus:

This promenade overlooks the Old City of Jerusalem, parts of western Jerusalem and a great sweep of the Judean Desert. Its 1,350 meter long walk is used by both Jews and Arabs as well as tourists and pilgrims to Jerusalem. Its quiet gardens, planted with agricultural species such as wheat and olives, and its many viewing pergolas, create an atmosphere of peace and beauty in which to enjoy this unique and world-famous site. The garden contrasts sharply with the desert which begins immediately at its feet, and provides an elegant transition from the city to the classic views of Jerusalem.

Great photos of the tayelet at the landscape architect's website!

A second big tayelet in the area is the Haas or Armon HaNatsiv Promenade , a favorite of tourists riding Segways.

On the far left the Old City is visible.
Enlarge the photo and you can see the golden Dome of the Rock shining.
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Above the Arab villages is the Mt. of Olives on the horizon, left.
Just beyond the ridge on the right lies the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea, and the Kingdom of Jordan.
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Strolling along the tayelet in evening or early morning sounds like a nice summer activity, so I add it to Robin's Summer Stock Sunday.
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Segways on the bridge

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Summer is for touring Jerusalem on Segways.
These three young people on the bridge were admiring the view to the east just before sunset.
The mountains of Moab in the Kingdom of Jordan, across the Dead Sea, were just visible in the haze.
Mount Zion is on the left in this photo.
Below is Gehinnom, the valley (guy) of Hinnom .

Here is their bridge as seen from the Jerusalem Cinematheque.

I posted here about the Bnai Brith Bridge and its famous handprints in the concrete.
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This post joins others at Robin's Summer Stock Sunday and Louis' Sunday Bridges.
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UPDATE: In response to comments I add some more information:
How does a Segway work?
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Mostly you only see these silent electric vehicles being ridden along the Armon HaNatsiv Promenade. A 1.5 hour guided tour costs $55. See their route on this map.
Me? I'd rather walk.
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Milking a hollyhock

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Oh crop! -- I forgot to crop out my shielding hand.
Oh well, at least it shows you this hollyhock is taller than me.
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I was shooting into the setting sun, trying to catch the shadows of the stem and buds coming through the back-lit petals.
That would be for Shadow Shot Sunday, of course.
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Now if you enlarge the photo and find at least two ants, it can count for Camera-Critters too.
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The hardy hollyhock appeared out of nowhere last month, sprouting up between ancient floor stones.
This month it is tall and blooming, with not a drop of water.
Hollyhocks give it their best for a short time during the hot dry Israeli summer and then they are gone.
That should qualify it for inclusion in Robin's meme, Summer Stock Sunday.
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Nu, have I milked this flower for all it's worth?
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For a limited time only

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Every year at this time the earth comes around to a certain point that makes the setting sun cast a dramatic light on the chapel wall.
Here it looks like the horn of light is devouring the icon!
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The sun is entering through a partly-opened round window.
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Eleven days later it looks slightly different.
It is a matter of May 30 at 5:55 pm compared to June 10 at 6:34 pm for these two photos.
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This summer seasonal play of light and shadow is for Summer Stock Sunday, which Robin here in Israel is starting up again tonight, and for Tracy's Shadow Shot Sunday .
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Mega mister

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Israel is starting our 4th straight week of ridiculous temperatures averaging ten degrees C above the normal.
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At Yardenit, near the Sea of Galilee, it was well above 43 C or 109 F in the shade; so the management turned on a big mister fan for the poor tourists.
I think that's what you call it.
It made shpritzim in a huge wind.

Blogger friend Robin* started a meme called Summer Stock Sunday.
The theme is activities and memories of summer.
I think the hottest August in recorded history is what we Israelis will remember about the summer of 2010.
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Wish I had that huge misting fan at home . . .
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*Robin and her family drove up to visit my village last April. That was a sweltering day too, but fun to meet them for the first time.
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Blue gets monotonous

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This is the countryside of our Jerusalem Hills, also known as the Hills of Judea.

Ancient agricultural terrace walls all around.

Summer means blue cloudless skies and lots of heat.

Summer knows no green on the ground, only dry brown.

The rains end around March and begin again only in late September or October.

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SkyWatch Friday posts are pretty boring here at Jerusalem Hills daily photo during the long hot summer.

Be patient.

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Fun in the sun

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Israeli blogger Robin of Around the Island invites us all to share scenes of summer tonight and every Saturday night.
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These young religious girls were having the time of their life singing and splashing in Jerusalem's Lions Fountain!

Even "swimming" in the shallow water!

It was a super-hot day in the city, and I was a bit envious.

The lion is the symbol of Jerusalem. This fountain was a gift from German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to Jerusalem.

The dove of peace perches atop the Tree of Life. In this picture a real bird was drinking water from the statue-bird's mouth.

Sprouts on the tree symbolize the branching of three Abrahamic faiths from a single root. And indeed, you often see Arab kids splashing in the water next to their Jewish "cousins."

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Ice cream in the street

Ice cream tastes good twelve months a year. But in the summer it's fun to see folks licking away at ice cream cones anywhere they can find to sit.
Enlarge the photo to see pretty tiles on the steps and walls of the ceramics gallery.
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The area is Nachalat Shiv'a, founded in 1869. It was the third Jewish neighborhood to be built outside the Old City wall.
To see how it was saved from the wrecking ball, please read the plaque on the wall.
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Robin's Summer Stock meme still has a few more Sundays to go before we leave the summer theme. Pay a visit or join us.

Italian Festival in Jerusalem

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Summer in Jerusalem means lots of free culture, music, entertainment in the streets.

Every August the Museum of Italian Jewish Art puts on a 3-day festival in their courtyard.
See my last Friday posts for more about it.

Gates opened at 6:00 pm and the crowd grew as the sun and the temperature went down.

The chocolate booth was my favorite. The flag of Italy on fine Belgian chocolate. :)

And tall bottles of chocolate liqueur. Yum!

The roving commedia dell'arte actors raised a big smile from the chocolate girls.

All manner of pasta. Four packages for fifty shekels.

Another counter was offering bowls of steaming pasta in sauce.

Near the Italian-language book stall was a table full of wooden Pinocchio figures.

The pretty young opera singer was accompanied by harpsicord and cello.

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I mostly heard the music from inside the museum (entrance having been reduced to only ten shekels, about $2.60).

Part of the museum is a functioning synagogue with furnishings from the Conegliano Veneto Synagogue, built in 1701 in the small village between Venice and Padua.

More about that in a future post.

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Summer hiking in the hills

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Summer often brings visits of friends from the United States.
Luckily my village (moshav) in the middle of the Jerusalem Hills is surrounded by forests and interesting hiking trails.
Walk five or ten minutes from my house and you can pick up the Israel Trail or the Hadassah Trail or the Trail of the Springs.

Meet Kristine and Mark. Mark was the director of Heifer Ranch in Arkansas for most of the six years (1996-2002) that I lived and worked as a volunteer there.
If you don't know about Heifer International, check it out. They give livestock and training to needy folks around the world.
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Robin, another blogger here in Israel, has a meme every Sunday about what summer means for us. You are welcome to visit or join in the fun.
Hope to meet many of you when you come visit Jerusalem someday too! Shalom.

Partying on Shushan Street

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SUMMER in Jerusalem means street parties--or so I learned quite by accident on Friday a bit before noon.
The loud and strange voices of a sound test coming from amplifiers drew me into this street which I had never-ever passed through before.

It turned out to be Shushan Street. You know, as in Shushan, Persia/Iran, famous in the Scroll of Esther read on Purim (remember that post?).

What's going on?!

The banners proclaimed: "The Front Stage, Jerusalem Street Parties."

OK, fine, free summer fun from the Jerusalem Municipality. Yalla!
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Artists were painting on the metal doors and pipes along the street.

Only later, back home, I read about the happening in the Jerusalem Post:

"The festival . . . is organized by the city's municipality and Tuvia and Hakatze - two bars located on the street - in addition to Taltalistim [a group of party organizers headed by Yaacov Baharav]. 'Rehov Shushan is a beautiful, long and narrow street with cool buildings along its sides. It is on the edge of the city's recreational district, yet it is a bit run down lately. We want to bring the color back to it,' says Baharav.

This is the second year the festival takes place. Last year saw approximately 2,000 revelers come out. This year, the organizers are anticipating at least as many, if not more.
The art show consists of 50 artists using the walls, windows and water pipes of the buildings along the street as their canvases. The party includes . . . a fashion market, food stands and a non-stop street party featuring the electro-rock band Terry Poison as the main event."
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Paintings even on the pavement.

Beautiful playing but the hat was not getting filled up.
It was still early and the festival was just getting organized.

Nice dreadlocks, eh?

This boy had no trouble playing the seamstress.

The "Urban Edges" street party party was to include an air juggler act hanging from a crane off the back of a truck.

I didn't wait around for that. Bus service back to my village stops in mid-afternoon on Fridays. So I headed back to the quiet Hills of Jerusalem for the Sabbath Eve and left the entertainment, which was due to go on until 6:30 (just before the beginning of Shabbat), to the city dwellers.

Robin of Around the Island, a blog based in Israel, invites you all to a new meme about what summer looks like to you. Every Sunday.
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