Back from Jerusalem

I made a quick trip to Jerusalem, one week in and out. I know, it seems crazy to go that far for just one week, but this isn’t a vacation, it was family issues.  Which means that I wasn’t spending my time running around being a tourist.

I grew up here, so it is amazing how familiar I feel, even with all the big changes going on. Driving in Jerusalem isn’t easy, instinctively I seem to know how the streets work. I guess that comes from living here so long ago.I did have time to meet my niece here for a visit. This train station was built over 100 years ago. It was quite a breakthrough to have the train come up from Jaffa to Jerusalem, I think it was about 40 years ago that the train stopped running, so now has been transformed into one of those wonderful creative urban spots.The green painted doors and shutters are new.  I’ve noticed some old photos (as in just a year or two ago) that does not have the shutters or the color.From inside the station, looking at the building. Most of the structure is now filled with restaurants and few shops.They have covered most of the track so it it easy to walk on, but here and there they have left the track exposed. A lot of sun umbrellas for the hot days,  heat lamps for the cool Jerusalem nights as well as the cold days that are coming quickly.End of the line train stop.This is Israel, this little two year old was running around on his own. I never saw the parents, they must have been around somewhere. At some point he was gone, presumably  with his parents. It is amazing how much freedom little children have. Six year olds take the bus alone to school and in a large open place like this (yes protected from street traffic) a little boy scoots around freely.Weekends in Israel are Friday, Saturday.  So they set up a very cute craft fair. You can also see how they have covered most of the train tracks. At night there are music performances as well. Notice the crane in the background? They are building a 15 story hotel, construction never stops in this city.Have I mentioned how strong and hot Jerusalem sun can be?  Mouth watering bread.Interesting collection of antiques.View into one of the stores. They left one wall untouched, with the old pealing paint in place.As you walk south from the station, the tracks now become a wonderful walking path and bike path to it’s side.  So far this urban walk walk way goes a couple miles south through neighborhoods and industrial areas. Full of walkers and bikers.  A lovely urban renewal project.  Here is the old switch station, turned into a small restaurant, appropriately named: The Switch Station.At the first intersection with a street is a small hut where a man used to sit to signal to the traffic on the street that a train was coming. Today there is a delightful  juice hut here.  That is my niece in the blue and yes, we both had some very interesting juice combinations – delicious of course. Mine had melon, cucumber, mint and lemon juice. Refreshing!We sat under the green umbrella, enjoyed our juice and enjoyed a relaxing conversation.