Pictures of Ma'ale Adumim

We live in Ma'ale Adumim, is a great place in the middle of the Judean Desert. Literally means "Red Heights".

I hope you will enjoy the pictures. Until my next entry, have a wonderful day.

To Ma'ale Adumim


Entrance to Ma'ale Adumim


Ma'ale Adumin View # 1


Ma'ale Adumin View # 2



Ma'ale Adumin View # 3


Ma'ale Adumin View # 4


Ma'ale Adumin View # 5


Ma'ale Adumin View # 6


Ma'ale Adumin View # 7


Ma'ale Adumin View # 8

Pictures

"A Birth Certificate shows that we were born.

A Death Certificate shows that we died.

Pictures show that we lived"!


CALATRAVA'S SCULPTURE










THE CENTRAL BUS STATION ENTRANCE














THE YELLOW ARROW INDICATES THAT ONLY BUSES AND TAXIS CAN DRIVE BY, OTHER TRHANSPORTATION WILL GET A FINE!!! THE PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION DRIVES BY THE WHITE ARROW.

Central Bus Station, Jerusalem

When you arrive at the Central Bus Station, you will see a huge sculpture made by Calatrava like the picture you see above. Although it is, for many persons, an amazing piece of artwork, I, personally, do not find it at all attractive! It reminds me the “remodeled Soldier’s Field structure” in Chicago. Something very weird! Modern and old in the same place.


I was told that this represents a bridge that holds the light rail systems. The residents of Jerusalem are expecting the advent of light rail systems three years from now consequently, you see constructions everywhere you go in the city. Yafo Road is really a pain for the cars and the buses that need to transit there. Wherever you try to drive or walk, you are greeted by dust and holes.
Finally, after you arrive at the bus station, you feel better!!!


As is the case with any place you go in Israel, you need to open your purse or take out any metal that you may have in your pockets to be inspected. After few times, you just do it automatically.


Arriving nearer to the doors, you will see two different entrances: if you are carrying either a purse or a small bag, you go through the first entrance; if you have a larger bag or luggage, you need to go through the second entrance. If you are a soldier, you can enter either. Wherever you go in, you need to open your belongings and show them to the police or soldier, who will check that you are not carrying anything dangerous!!


Inside of the Central Bus Station, you will find many little restaurants and shops, with their attendant cashiers and information desks. Do not ask one of the cashiers at what time the bus leaves or what bus you need to take in order to go to your destination. It is better you go and ask the person at the information desk, unless you want to hear a “nasty answer” if the person whom you ask is not in a good mood. :)


I do not remember seeing many buses leaving "on time" from the bus station. Depending where you go, the buses leave every 10, 20 or 30 minutes. They cannot be delayed. If there is a bus that has any mechanical or technical problem, that bus is exchanged almost right away for another. WOW! That’s really reassuring! Therefore, you can actually tell at what time you will arrive at your destination!! Thus, unless, of course, something happens on the road.

See you on my next post and have a wonderful day!

The old train station in Jerusalem

The entrance to the Old Train Station of Jerusalem, in Bakka


The mural on the wall of the Old Train Station of Jerusalem, in Bakka


Me, next to one of the doors


A sign at the Old Train Station of Jerusalem, in Bakka


Above I posted some pictures I took from the Old Train Station. I remember when I came the first time to Israel, many many years ago, 1972, I use to take the train to go to Tel Aviv because it was a great experience.

Coming now and see that there is not train, it looks weird for me.

Purim in Jerusalem!

Raashan
Oznei Haman
Mishloach manot

It's Purim, the Jewish Carnival!!!


Where ever you go, you see costumes, ever since last Friday, Feb.26.

All the kids and a lot of adults took out clothes from their closets and made for themselves costumes. Some of them go to the stores and buy costumes: angels, devils, animal costumes, princess, boys/girls movies characters, religious, ninjas, etc.

It is really nice to see not only in the malls, but also the bus drivers, doctors attending patients or teachers in their work place celebrating Purim with their costumes.

Other customs during this season include giving the Purim Basket (Mishloach Manot), at least two different ready-to-eat foods to one person, as we read in the book of Esther (Megilat Esther), which calls for “the sending of portions (Mishloach Manot) one man to another”. The basket includes food or drinks that do not need any further preparation. Some people just buy the basket ready in the supermarket of stores,[as you can see in one of the pictures above], others prepare them at home.

Ozney haman (in Hebrew) or Hamantashen (in Yidish) [Haman’s ears], are delicious triangular-shaped, filled pastry which is traditionally served on Purim. When I was a little kid, I used to eat them filled with marmalade, today I saw them filled with halva, chocolate, dates and others fillings. They are REALLY DELICIOUS!!!!

The kids also plays with a ra’ashan (grogger) Some of them are made from wood, other are plastics. The ra’ashan is the traditional toy used for making a noise to stamp out Haman’s name during the reading of Megilat Esther.

During Purim, as any other Carnival in the world, the clowns are very popular. Kids and adults love them; some get dressed up like them and some just enjoyed seeing them. Here in Israel I heard about a very special group of clowns. Clowns who not only amuse the people who see them, especially children, but who also bring happiness to the ill in hospital. And I am talking about the “Medical Clowns” that are in Tel Hashomer hospital, in Tel Aviv.

Last Shabat, we had the opportunity to spend it with our dear friends in the Moshav Tirat Yehuda. We heard that a young girl came to the moshav and spoke about the wonderful program she attends, and invited other young people to follow her step and others in order to put a smile in the hearts of the children who are going into surgery or staying in the hospital due to their sickness.

There is an “Academic Program for Medial Clowns”, also known as “Dreams Doctors”, at Haifa University. I think is a great idea to follow. I am quite sure that a kid who is going into a surgery while accompanied by a clown will “forget” his/her pain or fear and will smile or laugh with the clown's jokes. “Laugher is the best medicine for your health”.

Until the next entry!

Happy Purim