Crisp brick-red shutters set against pale yellow walls and tropical flowers
Yesterday we had an appointment at a branch of the US Embassy in Haifa. We got there at 10:10 AM but were told that we absolutely would not be received until 10:50 for our 11 AM appointment. My husband was a bit frustrated, but I was elated to have the opportunity to take a walk around this well kept (ie: expensive)
historic neighborhood centered on Ben Gurion Street at the foot of Mt. Carmel.
With the visual lure of these perfectly manicured gardens just up the street, who could resist taking a walk despite the summer heat? Wow! Wish my garden looked like that - but with the current drought warnings in Israel I'd be really asking for a huge water bill and some heavy duty fines. I gather they are an exception as a tourist attraction, or maybe they have their own grey-water irrigation system?
Vintage Israeli tiles used outdoors, wonderful patterns and colors!
The children were starting to complain and I tried to explain to them that people get on airplanes and fly for many hours to visit historic places like this! I've always loved historic architecture and so this was a real treat for me. I felt as though I'd been transplanted to Europe. My husband on the other hand stayed in the air conditioned car to make some calls, and will see what he missed when he checks out my blog!
Interesting wrought-iron gate and a beautiful historic hotel- love the flower pots: one type of pot with one type of flower, subtle yet elegant. And the leaded glass windows and ceiling fans outside — just lovely!
One of my sons kept asking me "mommy, why are you taking so many pictures?" I guess they weren't as excited about the architecture as I was.....hmmm gotta work on that! "Because this is what I love to do!" I answered and thought about all the time I'd spent taking photos of buildings in the past. At least now I have a way to share this interest, thanks to you my faithful readers!
I just loved this pruned tree and the wonderful balcony with a few plants.....dreamy!
In case you are wondering, the German Colony was founded in 1868 by a group of Templer Protestants from Southern Germany, who settled in the Holy Land for religious reasons. Their population fluctuated between 300-400 settlers, about 60 of whom were American. Bet they would have loved living right next to the American mini-consulate, so convenient!
Gotta love those hanging colored balls, bobbing restaurant lights after dark!
I saved this image for last, as it was one of my favorite sights. I felt like I had stepped into some Spanish street scene for just a moment, a really strange feeling knowing that my feet were firmly planted in Israeli soil! The juxtaposition of the 60's modern plastic lights and the historic 1870's building just really quenched my aesthetic thirst for something different....can't explain it more than that. The little voices asking "mommy, you said you'd buy us ice cream!" jolted me back to reality, and in any case we needed to return to the consulate.
Looking back, this was an amazing 40 minutes! An unexpected mini-vacation that didn't cost a penny and that priceless feeling of having been transported to another time— a great way to gain perspective on one's own existence.
Have a great day, and think about exercising your artistic eye by looking at the juxtapostion of color and form as you walk down the street! This is then "visual information" that gets stored in your brain and can be accessed when you are in the midst of creating something! What do you think about that?
