The amateur tour guide

December 30, 2010 - 10:24 AM by · 3 Comments
Filed under: Entertainment, Food, General, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Life, Travel 

We’re in a hosting week. Given that it’s Christmas-New Year’s week, it’s time for visitors to come, well, visit. For us, there’s the added incentive of my nephew’s bar mitzvah — Akiva, my special, special-needs nephew who did fabulously at his bar mitzvah on Monday morning — and the more than 30? 35? friends and relatives who decided to take advantage of a vacation week and come celebrate with us over here.

And so, I’ve got four cousins staying with me, plus some more family up the block in a rented apartment, and a variety of others staying in a range of hotels, from the simple to the more luxe. When that happens, you become tour guide for the week. Or ten days. Or two weeks.

It’s a funny thing. I mean, what do I know about being a tour guide? I didn’t take the tour guide course, of course, but when you’ve lived somewhere for 15 years, and it’s a place that people like to visit, you end up gathering information and knowledge about this kind of stuff. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that I just finished a project updating the Jerusalem section of the Fodor’s guidebook, and am now a local expert — among family and friends — about where to eat, stay and shop in Jerusalem.

We’ve tramped around Machane Yehuda, wandered through the newly renovated Israel Museum, walked around the ‘Mitcham HaRakevet’ in Tel Aviv and gone shopping in Gan Hachashmal. I’ve sent them to eat and see a flick at the Jerusalem Cinematheque, feed the goats in Moshav Tel Shachar and munch on grilled chicken in the shuk.

It’s fun to rediscover your fave places through the eyes of others. And, hey, to vacation in your own town.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Movie picks

July 6, 2008 - 8:49 PM by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Art, General, History and Culture 

It’s Jerusalem Film Festival season and as usual, I’m somewhat obsessed with figuring out which movies I want to see, with whom and when. I know I’m not alone in this JFF excitement, given that I see other people around town, carrying their Film Festival guides, whether from the paper or purchased, pages thumbed and earmarked.
This year is the 25th anniversary of the international film festival, which was created by the Jerusalem Cinematheque and screens dozens of Israeli and foreign films from around the world at several theaters in town, from July 10 through 19, including Moonlight Cinema, the free, night-time movies shown at the city’s old train station.

Taking in some flicks at the festival is always a great way to celebrate summer, starting with the opening night film that is shown on a giant screen in Sultan’s Pool, a valley shadowed by walls of the Old City. It’s a dramatic scene, even when the fare is family-friendly, such as this year’s choice, Pixar’s Wall-E.

Yet the rest of the festival is a rich smorgasbord of options, from the typical foreign fare of France, Italy Spain and England, to Asian titles, Scandinavian screenings and a wide choice of more select American films, as well as local films on a variety of subjects, from Arab-Jewish relations to more standard cultural fare about Israeli life.

Each year, I relish the opportunity to see films that wouldn’t necessarily reach these parts, whether it’s something I’ve read about, or a movie that piques my interest, but wouldn’t necessarily be my usual choice for a flick. It’s also a chance to be out in the city with other Jerusalemites as well as visitors, appreciating a city that doesn’t always get kudos for its cultural offerings.

Tags: , , , , ,

 

© 2012 ISRAELITY | Site by illuminea | Sitemap