walking

December in Jerusalem

/ IlanaB / Leave a comment

I took a walk this week and took in the sights of Jerusalem in December. It happened that it was 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 C) and while that was a little warm for Jerusalem in December, it’s a nice feeling to get out into the sunshine on a pleasant day.

I’ve been passing this new statue on the street.  Part of me wishes it really was a talented street musician.  Maybe they can pipe some music in…

IMG_20171211_131831

There is an interesting photo exhibit on the walls of the Old City.  It seems to be reflective of the faces you see in the city.

And in the cool evenings, we are celebrating Chanukah by lighting candles, eating donuts and illuminating our best selves. We choose not to curse the darkness in the darkest days of the year (not to mention these “days of rage” lately, but that’s another story).

Beautiful Allergy Season

/ IlanaB / 1 Comment

I don’t usually suffer from allergies, but this week I found that I was sneezing and snuffly.  As I walked to the office this week, I noticed several fragrant suspects and I decided that I didn’t mind so much after all.

There’s a hidden courtyard behind the Waldorf-Astoria in Jerusalem.  Each corner seems to have something special.

IMG_20170420_090536

Orange blossoms

IMG_20170420_090611

Wisteria with a background of grapes

IMG_20170420_090647

I think this is a type of sage

IMG_20170420_090703

A rose is a rose is a rose …

IMG_20170420_090732

I don’t know what this is, but it has a very strong, sweet fragrance

IMG_20170420_090748

I don’t know what these are either, but they smell nice too.

There’s a small rose garden next to the King David Hotel.  They aren’t the typical full-bodied roses that I remember from the US, but they are still lovely.

IMG_20170420_091457IMG_20170420_091518IMG_20170420_091544IMG_20170420_091732

On the last leg of my journey, I walk through Bloomfield Park.  Here were some smaller blooms, but mostly just the typical Jerusalem greenery – olive trees and various other shrubs.

IMG_20170420_091821

I don’t know what these are, but they are tiny and pretty

IMG_20170420_092134

And come in alternate colors

IMG_20170420_092239

Soft, delicate I-don’t-know-whats

IMG_20170420_092339

Jerusalem greenery

IMG_20170420_092416

And more Jerusalem greenery

And then I arrived at the office thinking that I would rather be outside (because maybe I’m actually allergic to work?).

So That Happened

/ IlanaB / Leave a comment

On Monday a bus blew up.

I heard a lot of sirens all of a sudden just before 6pm.  At first I thought it was a VIP and his entourage.  But then there were more.  And more.

Facebook.  A friend’s comment.  “Anyone know what happened on Derech Hevron?” And then the answers started flooding in.  It wasn’t Derech Hevron.  A bus.  Was it terror?  Wait.  The police don’t want to say that yet.  Definitely bus on fire.  Second bus also on fire.  Then the evidence pointed to terror.

*Sigh*  I remember those days.  I didn’t like those days.  I don’t want those days back.

Between 6pm and 7pm I had to make a decision.  My Tai Chi class is in the same neighborhood as the bus bombing.  Should I take a bus as usual?  Class wasn’t canceled (of course), so I decided to walk.  I walked in part because I could use the additional exercise.  The chance of another bus attack was pretty small, but it’s been so long since a bus attack that I just didn’t want to get on a bus.

It took 45 minutes and I was pretty pleased with myself.

On the way back, another choice.  As I was passing the bus stop, the bus came.  I could have gotten on.  There were plenty of people taking the bus right then.  But I chose to walk.

I was happy with the accomplishment of walking to and from class.  It was a good long walk and something that I had considered doing before.  But I’m bothered by the fact that the thing that pushed me to do it was a bus blowing up.

Two days later, I had a chance to ease my bothered feelings.  I took a train and a bus to where I needed to go.  I walked in crowded areas where I needed to run my errands and life was back to normal.

Since this is Israel, “normal” right now means high alert.  Over major holidays in Israel there is a much more visible presence of security personnel and starting today and for the next 48 hours the West Bank and Gaza Strip are closed off.

I am sure that upon hearing the words “West Bank closed off” there are those who would cry “oppressive occupation” and excuse all violence against civilians as “legitimate protest.”  I disagree.  Besides nothing being “legitimate” about blowing up a bus filled with civilians, as a citizen of Israel, I expect my government and our armed forces to protect civilians.  I expect to feel secure as I walk or take a bus in my streets.  And when I look at images like this, I’m glad that security personnel are doing everything in their power to keep us safe.

bus bomb

Screen capture from HaAretz

Originally, I had plans to write a nice Friday email about my first Passover in Israel, but this week provided many other potential topics – this bus bombing, a follow-up on Western Wall/Temple Mount issues, and Prince, another icon from my childhood, passed away.  Well, it will still be Passover next Friday and I may yet write about these other things too.

Wishing everyone a peaceful Passover!