Even Sapir, Jerusalem
Tuesday, November 18th, 2003
https://adamkhan.net/rambles/lovely-scenery-but-walks-getting-boring
It’ll be better for the dogs, I reasoned when I moved from the city to a moshav, a type of agricultural community. And yes it is, and the scenery around Even Sapir is lovely to the point of spectacular, but the walks are getting boring, most especially at night.
At first it was exciting to follow all the paths in the vicinity and discover the delightful vistas and spots to which they led. At the bottom of my hill is the Israel National Trail, which runs from the north to the south of the entire country, its path chosen for scenic highlights. In almost every direction outside the moshav there are lovely walks. Still, I walk less often with the dogs than when living in the city.
One reason is that walks are no longer necessary. The front door is always open here and the dogs can wander in and out at will so they can do their excretory business whenever they like. The thing is, I like going for walks with the dogs.
Unless I turn the walk into a big hike, leaving the moshav and going into the surrounding countryside or driving somewhere new, it’s not much fun to just step out the door and wander. Back in Tel Aviv I was certainly getting tired of the same old spots, but although it’s pleasant to walk around the circuit of the moshav, it’s getting very dull. During the day it’s nice, you can look at the spectacular hills around, but at night there’s nothing to see, and barely any life.
Yes, I can jump in the car and we can go for a walk in any nook and cranny of nearby Jerusalem (we’re a scenic 15-minute drive from the city), but it’s not quite the same as being able to just step outside the house and walk the city. I reason that I won’t be here long, so not to worry, but that’s not a good attitude; it’s all the more reason, arguably, to suck the juice out of where I am, to make sure to go on good walks in the relatively short time I’m going to be here.
The last time we drove into town for a dog walk was about a month ago. It was good in that we did find something new, but again, driving to go for a walk seems a tad ridiculous. I parked outside the Mount Zion Hotel and walked down through Mishkenot Sha’ananim and the surrounding parks, a place which I find boring and even irritating, then across Sultan’s Pool to the walls of the Old City, where, fabulous reader, we did rekindle our walking explorations. I discovered it’s possible to walk all along the outside of the Old City walls; it’s a rocky grassy park, and that was great.
Grand Jerusalem
Saturday, August 7th, 2004; Jerusalem, Israel
After arriving at the Jewish Quarter we circled back down the valley past the music college and up past the Cinematheque again and down into Emek Refa’im, where the Saturday night crowds were still hanging about and I bought a slice of pizza. Which felt pretty miserable, as I barely know anyone in this city. Then back to the car.
Yes, there were ten delightful exciting minutes at the foot of the Old City walls, but I wouldn’t do it again, because the rest was such a drag. I have to say, especially now that it’s quite cold at nights, I am missing Tel Aviv. I’m missing the bicycle- and rollerblade-friendly flatness of the topography. I’m missing the commercial density.
I like quiet, but I’m a city boy. How to reconcile the two?
