Jerusalem: Part 1

Our visit to Jerusalem.
On our last day in Israel, Yanek volunteered to be our guide to Jerusalem. We were excited to see the Holy City..and to spend more time with our new friend. With usual punctuality, Yanek called us while on his way, and picked us up in front of the hotel at 9:00am...and we set out for our adventure. The drive takes about an hour or so. We took the highway, and I was surprised at many things along the way...including the fact that the road is in excellent condition...with smooth asphalt, wide lanes, and good signage...but also with the landscape through which it took us. I had a preconceived notion of Israel as a country marked by a dry and rocky landscape, but instead of a never ending desert, the road took us through patches that came very close to looking as if we were in those parts of California that remind me of Tuscany's countryside. Jake - as he has done since he was little - napped along the way, but not before catching some of the landscape.

Arriving to Jerusalem.
As we arrived to Jerusalem we were greeted by the sight of a city entirely built from Jerusalem stone - according to a city ordinance requiring that this be the only material that is used on the exterior of buildings. Although this is definitely a limiting factor in terms of the architectural texture, the buildings include a wide variety of styles and shapes that don't let the city feel dull. Another thing that is hard to miss is the new bridge by the Spanish architect Calatravas...a white wing-like structure that jets out to the sky seemingly defying gravity...and looking more like a sculpture than a structural piece of engineering. I can see why this is considered controversial, but in my opinion it is symbolic of the courageous spirit of the Israeli...and their apparent strong desire to combine modernity with tradition. Jerusalem, BTW, is a sprawling city...much larger than Tel Aviv. It is the capital of Israel and the city where the Israeli Prime Minister lives and where the country's Parliament is located. Of course Jake knew all this...but it was news to me. I am afraid that my apolitical tendencies and lack of interest have left me embarrassingly uninformed and uneducated about much of what happens around the world. Luckily, Jake can fill in in the many gaps since he keeps himself keenly abreast of the issues.
BTW: Jerusalem is the place where Jake decided to try out his new hat. Please vote on whether or not he should keep this look going. WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOUR VOTE , PLEASE!!!