Raḥavath ’Ilan Street

Jewish date:  26 Nisan 5772 (Parashath Thazria‘-Meṣora‘).

Today’s events:  Look-Alike Day (not to be confused which is Look Alike Day, which is Friday).

Greetings.

Continuing my series on the streets of Giv‘ath Shemu’el, today we examine Raḥavath ’Ilan (Tree Square) Street, down in the southern part of the city near Bar ’Ilan University.  As before, descriptions may be deliberately inaccurate to make them more entertaining. Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but weirdness is in the imagination.

One thing very odd about Raḥavath ’Ilan Street is that it is not a street in the normal sense of the term.  It is essentially a long, thin parking lot with other parking lots attached to it.

An attempt at decorating dead space at the end of Raḥavath ’Ilan Street, possibly with Japanese influence.

This weird, spiky plant may be from Mars.

In Giv‘ath Shemu’el and neighboring towns, there are a lot of citrus fruits, such as these oranges, growing out on the streets and in people’s yards.

Alien seedpods.  No way these could be from Earth.

These spherical things on the ground were left here in an attempt to attract Pac-Man.

That white paint is the latest fashion in tree makeup.  Notice the peer pressure.

Notice the alien plant.  I have seen many of these glowing in the dark.

More Pac-Man bait.

Whoever laid out the streets has an interesting sense of humor.

Enjoy and share the weirdness.

’Aharon/Aaron

PS:  I am somehow getting a vision of a caption contest, so please feel free to leave comments with original (mis)interpretations of any of the photos in this series.

’Oranim Street

Jewish date:  20 Nisan 5772 (Parashath Shemini).

Today’s events:  National Robotics Week, Look Up At The Sky Day, Yuri’s Night, National Licorice Day.

Greetings.

Today’s street of interest in Giv‘ath Shemu’el is ’Oranim (Pine) Street, which is near Bar ’Ilan University.  As previously, comments may be inaccurate if deemed more entertaining.

Clearly someone who laid out the street plan has an interesting sense of humor.  And again, I claim no understanding of the transliteration system

Despite the name of the street, there are a lot of non-pine trees on it.

Again, not a pine.

Definitely not a pine.

This is not even a real plant.

OK, here are some pines.

Pines, a wall to climb over, some vehicles, and a strangely ominous building in the background.

Electrical boxes in this country are frequently painted to look non-boring.  These electrical boxes were painted by Pablo Picasso during his “blue period”.

These plants have been locked up for being naughty.

This building has Yale envy.

More Yale envy.

Even more Yale envy.

Yale envy above and beyond the call of duty.

Even this tree has Yale envy.

Finally, a little flower growing on a rock.

Enjoy and share the weirdness.

’Aharon/Aaron

’Aharon Street

Jewish date:  19 Nisan 5772 (Parashath Shemini).

Today’s events:  National Robotics Week, Barbershop Quartet Day.

Greetings.

For today’s weird thing, I want to try something new.  Urban planners and architects in Israel have a lot of fun.  They do not hesitate to take boring things, such as electrical boxes and road medians, and make them more interesting.  Combining this with a tendency I have to see unusual things everywhere if I just look closely enough, I am (slowly) trying to visit every street here in Giv‘ath Shemu’el and photograph something unusual.  There are a total of 87 streets in this town, so this should be feasible.  Today’s installment is ’Aharon Street, which is not named after me.  Note that comments on the photographs may or may not be accurate, depending on entertainment value and how much I feel like compensating for less-unusual streets.

The street sign.  Please do not ask me to explain the transliteration system on street signs, because no one seems to understand it.

Looking down the street.  Note the lack of a separate asphalt-covered area for motor vehicles, which may be meant as a method of discouraging motorists and encouraging more ecologically friendly forms of transportation.

Wind chimes which always seem to be playing “Louie Louie”, indicating possible demonic activity.  Some authorities suggest that demons may be allergic to asphalt.

A metal rooster which plays percussion for the wind chimes.

I know there is nothing particularly unusual about these flowers.  Except these pictures were taken in January.

Some pictures of a garden area, just to round things out.  For some reason the abundance of palm trees in this country reminds me of Gilligan’s Island.  And I am aware these are date palms, not coconut palms.

Enjoy and share the weirdness.

’Aharon/Aaron