Good Day! I am Kira, 30, a lawyer from Jerusalem.

I’ve been living here since 11 years old and I start forgetting my native Russian.

It was Thursday, my day off, December 29 2011, and I spent it in Jerusalem and Nazareth. Me and my boyfriend had been going to make a trip to the north of the country to celebrate our N years together and feel the atmosphere of the coming New Year.

As far as the Jewish New Year is celebrated in September, we had to go to Nazareth, the biggest Christian city in Israel, to see the “non-Jewish” New Year.

The iPhone informs me about the planned meeting that should start in some minutes already. However I had found someone to take my place there so I don’t have to hurry.

Before leaving to Nazareth we have to pack, drop in a bank and take our dog Darko to parents of Nadav.

Breakfast is a good thing too, but someone feels like walking…

So I get dressed and take the dog for a walk.

Lion standing at our house, it’s a symbol of Jerusalem.

I am going to the nearest park called “Freedom Bells”

The bell itself. It’s a copy of a Freedom Bell in Philadelphia.

And this is dragon named Jerry

Olive trees

I decide to cross the road to the neighbouring park (Bloomfield) and take photos of an adjacent picturesque dwelling district. At the traffic lights I hear children’s voices and water splashes. Right at the entrance to the park there is a fountain where I see Arab kids bathing. Luckily the day is warm.

When they see me with the dog they rush to us asking to flatter Darko. They don’t know Hebrew so use gestures to explain themselves. They notice the camera and want to be photographed.

Then they go back to the fountain

As for me, I am going to the observation sight from where I can view Silvan – an Arab district…

.. and Zion mountain on which stand a monastery and a belfry of the Abbey of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. The legend says there is a stone there on which Virgin Mary died.

Local windmill

Nearby there is a district called Yemin Moshe that has only some dozens of low buildings. The streets are revetted, the houses sink in greenery, there are no electric or telephone poles because all wires are underground here. Cars are prohibited on the territory, so locals have to park them out of the district.

On the way back I take another picture of the windmill.

Then I meet another lion

And monks

Near our house – tangerine tree

Nadav is ready to go now. But suddenly we realize we may be late in the bank, so we urgently leave..

Near the bank we got stuck in a traffic jam. Here we were standing for half an hour.

10 minutes before the time when the bank had to close I left the car and rushed to the bank.

Nadav remained to stand in the traffic jam hoping to finally park the car, and he finally did and came to the bank. We signed all necessary documents and left the back at about 2pm.

I was not allowed to photograph inside the bank, so no photos from there.

But here’s what we see on the wall of the house near the bank. I am trying here to be a part of the car…

We get hungry and decide to go to the market “Mahane Yehuda” to eat in some cafe on its territory.

Fixing time

This market has everything – from fruits, vegetables, fish and meat, pastry, cheese and wine to designers’ clothes, jewelry stores, restaurants and cafes where they offer dishes made of the most fresh, just bought here food.

There is even a synagogue where the prayer was being held.

We overcome crowds of people and sit in a restaurant where they serve fresh, just cooked pasta.

Satisfied we go back to the car.

Passing by the noisy street near the market we turn to Nachlaot district – peaceful and silent.

Paying for the parking space, time 3-09 as you may see on the receipt.

On the way wee see the Belgian consulate with palm trees and a huge cactus in its yard.

And it’s our house

4:06. We got out bags packed and are on the way to Nazareth now.

If the navigator tells the truth we have 144 km or 2 hours 5 minutes ahead…

House of Nadav’s parents where we leave Darko

The day before that Hanukka had ended so we could still see festive lamps on the windowsill.

For all 8 days of the holiday people enjoy candle light coming from the lamp called khanukiyah in memory of the wonder that happened on the days of Hanukka. The khanukiyah lamp should be put outside, in a good light.

The tree I’ve made of beads and plaster.

Lemon tree in the yard

5-12 pm and it’s got dark

Non-stop to Nazareth

And here we are – parking at the hotel

Short excursion in the hotel

Night Nazareth

We have come to the restaurant and are welcomed by these deer.

Inside we see a decorated fir tree – which is not typical for Israel…

Waiting for the order

Then, after the supper, we have a walk along night Nazareth.

Here’s Basilica of Annunciation. There was the grotto here, where according to the legend, the Virgin Mary lived and where she was told the Christian message by the Angel.

Greek-Orthodox Church of the Archangel Gabriel built in 17th century on the place of the Virgin Mary fountain where the Annunciation happened.

After the walk we return to the hotel, drink tea, read papers, discuss plans for the next day and go to bed after 12.

Thanks for being with us!

Location: Jerusalem and Nazareth

via odin-moy-den

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