My novel, Neither Here Nor There, due to be published later this year, describes several places in Jerusalem that I’ve mentioned before on this blog. Like the market, Machane Yehuda.
Machane Yehuda market
Jaffa Road and the light railway (which has been going for two and a half years).
Yemin Moshe, where I used to live, and which I described here and here and here.
Yemin Moshe windmill
There are some other places in Jerusalem that get a mention in the novel. I’ll have to photograph them, too.
There are also places in London that feature in the novel. I haven’t taken photos of them and they’re a bit far away from me for a quick snapping session.
Place can often drive a novel. It certainly drives mine.
A lane in Yemin Moshe
Nothing can happen nowhere. The locale of the happening always colours the happening, and often, to a degree, shapes it.
…when someone wishes me merry Christmas or happy holidays or season’s greetings. I’m just amused.
Because, while we have plenty of holidays here, only the Christians celebrate Christmas, and not all of those celebrate it on 25th December. The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7th according to our calendar, the Armenian Church on January 19th.
When I lived in England, the day was special for us because it was a day off for most people. We used to spend it with my uncle and aunt and cousins in their house, and we always enjoyed it.
But here in Israel it’s a non-holiday for us, a normal day. If I went to the Old City, I expect I’d see signs of celebration in the Christian Quarter, but elsewhere there are no signs at all. What amuses me is the assumption by some people that the whole world celebrates Christmas in some way. So if I send greetings, I usually get the same back.
People who think about it a bit more might say, “Happy Chanuka.” Most years that would be suitable, but Chanuka came early this year.
Only one person replied in the same way as I usually do when people wish me a happy whatever: “Thank you.”
Today I went into town to get a new battery for my watch and do some shopping at the market. I took some photographs to show how normal everything was. Well, almost.
The train was crowded, as usual.
Light railway train into town
More so on the way back when it would have been hard to take out my camera.
All the shops were open, including the watch shop that I needed.
Ben Hillel Street
Ben Yehuda Street looked as usual,
Ben Yehuda Street
except for the piles of snow, still there eleven days after the last snowfall.
Pile of snow
All over the Machane Yehuda market, it was business as usual,
Machane Yehuda market
including my favourite sweet shop.
Sweet shop
Back at the end of the light rail line, a bus weaved between
Miriam Drori, Author 