Certain benefits

September 19, 2011 - 8:05 AM by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: General 

A side effect of being the Fodor’s Jerusalem writer for hotels, restaurants, shopping and other fun activities — at least to me — is becoming a kind of reviewer. I say ‘kind of’ because with Fodor’s, I update details about a place, offer comments as to its amenities and services, but I’m not a reviewer per se. That said, places are included or left out of the guide based on my recommendations. Yes, power on a very, very small scale.

And there are also the perks. They don’t pay well, but in order to review a hotel or restaurant, you do need to pay a visit once in a while. See how the menu is faring, check out the rooms, and when necessary or possible, stay in said hotel. When you live in Jerusalem, it can feel strange to stay in a hotel that’s just five minutes from home. But that geographical proximity has its benefits as well. No long rides, a 24-hour vacation just minutes from home, and you get to spend all your time relaxing and very little time mapping and navigating.

So when Fodor’s recently asked me to pay another visit to the King David, nominated for its Grande Dame category, I thought, why not? Didn’t stay there last time, have never stayed there, but why turn down a great opportunity? Off we went, my husband and I, for a new version of the staycation in town. A five-minute ride brought us to the front door of the King David, and we then spent a great 21 hours inside the historic walls of this particular Jerusalem hotel. We learned a lot. For instance, did you know that they redid the pool and added a kind of jacuzzi section at one end? That there’s a new, young chef at the restaurant who is adding wasabi, beet and corn sorbets — delicious, really — to the dessert menu. And, that they recently added a 250-square-meter duplex room at the top of the hotel that includes a gym — looking to fend off the competition from the soon-to-be-completed Waldorf Astoria down the block?

But they’re pretty calm about the local competition, and get along quite well with the other hotels. They utilize each other’s space whenever there’s an overflow of regular guests and royalty or political leaders. The King David and American Colony Hotels, the only two Israeli hotels that are part of the Leading Hotels of the World club, let each other know when a LHW staffer in disguise is lurking around. And, bottom line, there’s nothing like sitting in the King David lobby, taking in the crowd around you. On our night there, U.S. envoy Dennis Ross was making notes on a sheaf of paper, while two ‘shidduch’ couples were drinking OJs and several families of tourists gathered to review their day.

And on my way out the door, as I was heading to take a bus home, I bumped into U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro, as he and his crew drove up in their big black Chevrolets. Only at the King David.

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A history lesson in Jerusalem

May 18, 2009 - 8:53 AM by · 1 Comment
Filed under: Art, coexistence, General, Politics, Travel 

david-towerThe Night Spectacular sound and light show at the Tower of David Museum in Jersualem’s Old City is indeed spectacular.

On a gorgeous Jerusalem Saturday night, the stands were full, as the 45-minute multi-media extravaganza was projected on the ancient walls of the Tower of David’s Citadel. Interspersed with trippy Fantasia-worthy interludes, the show covered the history of Jerusalem, from creation until modern times… almost.

From King David playing his harp on the rooftops of old buildings, to the Queen of Sheba visiting King Solomon’s Palace, the images are evocative, vivid and breathtaking. Particularly well done are the scenes depicting the destruction of the First and Second Temples and the exile of the Jews.

Since there isn’t any narration or subtitles -with only a striking musical accompaniment – you need to refer to the leaflet that’s handed out at the entrance to determine the various periods in which the city was ruled by the Crusaders, the Mameluks and the Turks.

All was mesmerizing until we arrived at modern times, which was depicted by in the British Mandate period with well-dressed British visitors strolling around Jaffa Gate. From there, it was a lightning jump to today with hundreds of school-aged kids filling up the screen and singing a song about peace. When they finished, the audience didn’t know whether to clap or not, until the lights in the courtyard came back on. There was nothing about 1948, 1967, or the relative coexistence that we enjoy todahy.

While filing out, audience members stopped to talk to our gracious host Caroline, who attempted to explain that the museum didn’t want to enter into the politics of latter day Jerusalem, and decided that depicting the history of 20th century Jerusalem would somehow end up offending somebody and not satisfy anyone.

Perhaps, but due to its omissions, The Night Spectacular ended a little less spectacularly than it began. It’s still a magical night out, one not to be missed.

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