The City Center (מרכז)
There are three roads that define this area (in my mind): Yaffo/Jaffa, King George, and Ben Yehuda. Inevitably, every tourist who comes to Jerusalem will take some sort of walking tour of this area. Nowadays, it is the center of the city, the downtown if you will. For a long time, this WAS the city outside of the Old City.
Much of this area is part of Nahalat Shiva, the home of the first synagogue outside of the Old City. Nahalat Shiva proper has lots of narrow, windy streets. It's become very much a pedestrian neighborhood with a few cars on larger roads. There are also lots of resaurants and bars.
Hummus Bar on Ben Sira. This has the second best hummus I've ever had. You'll have to wait until I talk about the Old City to tell you about the BEST hummus!
Yaffo Street is one of the major roads of historical Israel, especially pre-state Israel. As its name suggests, one could take this road to Yaffo, the major port now part of Tel Aviv-Yaffo. It used to be a very dirty, crowded, busy street that has undergone massive changes. As part of former Jerusalem Mayor and former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's plan, this road was closed to automobile traffic as construction on a light rail line began. Crisis after crisis, people in and out of office, the train has FINALLY OPENED, several years after they said it would. In fact, when I got here, I saw a few of the last test runs with the bubble wrap still on the seats. Now it's available for use, and for free! Granted, they haven't figure out the pay system yet for the transport.
Ceramic road name.
I can't tell you much about their coffee, but you need it!
The light rail! With passengers!
At the busy corner of Yaffo and King George, there used to be a Sbarro Pizza place. While there is no marker, surprising for a city that marks everything, tragedy befell the restaurant. A suicide bombing during peak afternoon traffic occurred. The Sbarro closed down and has since been replaced by various cafes and dress shops.
Oh. I thought I had a picture of this. Oops. To be updated!
King George Road was named for George V for his contribution toward the Balfour Declaration.
Along this street is the Mashbir, a nice department store, and just outside the Mashbir the facade of the defunt girls' school, Talithakumi.
The Mashbir. The black and red writing says "Mister Zol" or "Mister Cheap." It's a nice supermarket in the area.
Ben Yehuda is where all the action is. Lots of shopping, food, knick knacks, and live music. Almost any time of the day you can find someone playing guitar, accordion, singing into a microphone, and even a lady harpist every evening. Once a week on Saturday nights a Korean Christian Choir sings a wonderful set of songs. If you go shopping, bargain.
While I have yet to discover the best falafel place, sorry Sam, I have found the best shawarma place. My home rabbi also highly recommends it! Their fafalel is pretty good, I must admit.
You will see this sign all year round. It's not that big a sale. You can do better!
"Downtown" is a well-known song popularized by Petula Clark in 1965.
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