Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Walking in Ramallah



Some time travel is sudden and disorienting - in one place now,  in another  moment, later.  Years, decades, centuries can disappear in a moment squeezed into the boundary between cultures or friends.  Other times the days pass like the flickering frames of a silent movie.

In daily travels through Ramallah  - which translates as  “the Heights of God” – another movie flickers past my eyes .. . in scenes shot in the busy streets of the City on the Hill.
 

 Busy streets combine cars and pedestrians in a mixed stream.

 

A street vendor's coffee station is ready for service . . .
 
 As are pots of take-away flowers.
 A monument to Yasser Arafat continues toward completion in the square which bears his name.
   . . . and despite the "uncertainty" in the region . . . investment in real estate - such as this hotel and convention facility charges forward.
 
And a solitary street sweeper reminds us how care for the public domain remains a defining element of civilizations everywhere.
What was once mist over the Mediterranean is now condensing into a wall of cloud as it approaches the western slopes of the City.
 
As the cold mist and cutting wind arrives with darkness, the Ramalllah street vendors of hot kernel corn do a brisk business.
 

3 comments:

  1. Who would ever think kernel corn would be served on the street! Is this the equivalent of our popcorn and hot dog vendors?

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  2. Well, Good question! I haven't seen it before . . . but its tasty and warm and a simple business - they can just buy canned corn - open it and heat it - add butter and salt and pepper and put it in a cup. The only other food street vendors are: pastries, beans, corn on the cob, and coffee. Of course there are many shawerma and falafel shops too!

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  3. ah but does it beat Tabor corn! pmc

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