Carole Terwilliger Meyers's Blog, page 88

Sights to See: Jerusalem Park/9/11 Monument, Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem Park/9/11 Monument On the outskirts of town, NW of Jerusalem just off Hwy. 1. Jerusalem is the only other place in the world with a memorial for 9/11. The sculpture here resembles a burning flag, and a piece of the beam from the World Trade Center rests inside the monument's base. All of the names of the people who died are engraved in stones around the perimeter (this is the first place after NYC to display the names). My guide, Ron Sinai, is part of the Israel Rescue Team that travels to disaster sites around the world. After the 9/11 attack, it took 15 minutes to organize their 65-person unit, and they were at the airport within an hour to go to NYC—only to be stopped by a call from President Bush saying it was an American issue and needed to be taken care of by Americans. New in 2009, the monument is in a forested area where people can also bike and hike. It is paid for by the Jewish National Fund.



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers



More things to do in Israel.  

Sights to See: City of David, Jerusalem Walls National Park, Jerusalem, Israel

City of David, Jerusalem Walls National Park   This is the original city of Jerusalem created by King David 3,000 years ago. Located just outside the wall of the Old City, south of the Temple Mount, and long an Arab area, it is nowadays being slowly changed by the Jewish groups buying up homes. As I stood on a platform overlooking the Gihon Spring, I heard roosters crowing and saw goats grazing this surprising urban, yet rural, area.



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers



More things to do in Israel. 

Good Eats: Nicholas Restaurant , Portland, Oregon

Nicholas Restaurant 318 SE Grand Ave., 503-235-5123. L-D daily; $. The first thing I noticed in this Lebanese-Middle Eastern venue is the gigantic round flatbreads hanging over the sides of a raised serving plate on each table. This bread is so good that just it plus several appetizers is the way to go--perhaps hummus, eggplant baba ghanoug, or yogurt-cucumber tahziki spreads as well as some falafels and stuffed grape leaves. The gyros sandwich is also very good and comes wrapped in this same bread. Entrée items, Lebanese pizza, and mezza platters are also options. Portions are generous, and vegan choices are available.



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Sights to See: Church of Mary Magdalene, Jerusalem, Israel

Church of Mary Magdalene Featuring seven golden onion domes, this Russian Orthodox church was built in honor of the czar's mother in 1886. A mosaic inside depicts the legend of Mary Magdalene presenting an egg to the Emperor Tiberias. When she handed it to him, the egg is said to have turned red, symbolic of Jesus' blood. Nuns from all over the world now live here in the convent.



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers  

Sights to See: Church of All Nations, Jerusalem, Israel

Church of All Nations Adjacent to the Gethsemane, this church was built in 1944 with Catholic donations and is believed to be the spot where Jesus prayed his last prayer before his crucifixion. Known also as the "church of grief," the dark and gloomy interior is by design. The exterior features a lovely mosaic façade and gable roof.



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Sights to See: Gethsemane, Jerusalem, Israel

Gethsemane  This garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives is where Jesus and his disciples are believed to have prayed the night before his crucifixion. The olive trees in the garden are very, very old--some are claimed to be 1,500 years old--and still bear fruit.



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Good Eats: Balthazar, NYC

Balthazar 80 Spring St./Crosby St., 212-965-1414. Getting a reservation here during prime dining times can be a challenge, but if you come a little earlier or later you can sometimes waltz right in and sit down amid the grandeur. High ceilings, huge antique mirrors, and gilt galore top off the general roar from pleased diners, and I found myself with French-speaking neighbors on either side. A nice and useful touch is the striped kitchen towels used for napkin. At brunch the eggs Norwegian (with smoked salmon) or the crisp waffle with fresh fruit make satisfying choices, especially with a French-style bowl of cafe au lait. And because the restaurant is known for its wonderful French pastries (you can pick some up to go in the tiny bakery adjacent), do order a sticky bun, croissant, or some other delicious flaky thing as well.



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Sights to See: Dominus Flevit Church, Jerusalem, Israel

Dominus Flevit Church On the Palm Sunday Path. Built in 1955 to commemorate Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, this small church has a splendid view of the Old City through its ornate chapel window. Excavations during construction of the church uncovered a number of inscripted ossuaries (bone boxes) from the time of Jesus.



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Things to Do: Park Here, The Indoor Pop-Up Park, NYC

Park Here, The Indoor Pop-Up Park 201 Mulberry St./Spring St., 212-344-0288. Dec-Feb, daily noon-8pm. Free. New Yorkers and visitors who grow tired of winter's snow and cold weather can find refuge in indoor parks that pop-up around the city. In addition to frolicking on grass and basking in the heated air, visitors can sip Starbucks and other drinks, view films, and just relax on a picnic blanket, hammock, or park bench. Wi-Fi is free. Mornings are reserved for moms and their young children. But hurry, this year the park's last day is February 15.



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Sights to See: Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel

Palm Sunday Path This steep, downhill road leads from the top to the bottom of the Mount of Olives. You can see the panorama of Jerusalem and the Old City from the summit.



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers