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.I spotted this little red sign at the top of an Old City (Jerusalem) alleyway, just inside the Jaffa Gate. Odd place for a "tractor crossing" sign I thought to myself, and quickly snapped a photo. It was more than a little incongruous, since the alley in question looked like this:
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(alley shots were taken from the bottom looking up)
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.Imagine my surprise a few minutes later when I saw this:
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.What you can't see in this shot is that this little tractor was also pulling a small trailer behind it too. Turns out, this is how garbage is collected in the rabbit's warren back alleys of the Old City. Ingenious and quite unexpected. I didn't actually see him go up the steps so perhaps he just backed out again, though I can't imagine it would be all that much easier to try and back that rig up and around in those tiny streets.
.Heh. You learn something new every day. Jerusalem is just full of surprises.
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50 comments:
how clever, and if you weren't looking for a shot for your blog you might have missed it.
oops--but in my other life I am the mom of the J family
I think this is the most hilarious thing I've seen in a long time :D
That must be one complicated business driving around in those alleys :D
Well caught and thanks for the smile!
Cool find. I never saw a tractor sign.
Funny, just yesterday I watched a tractor and wagon trying for a long time to maneuver a tight turn in the Jewish Quarter. I wanted to photograph the scene but had mercy on the driver. Pirke Avot says not to even look on a person in the hour of his embarassment.
You can see the garbage tractor going UP the street here:
http://jerusalemhillsdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/11/old-city-vehicles.html
That's quite stunning! I wouldn't believe it, if I not saw it here. Have a wonderful day, Robin :)
Oh wow, so they really do go right up the steps. Yipes!
Thanks for beautiful pictures from old Jerusalem.
I think my leg muscles finally would get some exercise from walking there.
Those picturesque surroundings are so attractive.
The tractor tells us always to be aware of the unexpected.
I fear I could not have hidden a smile at the sight.
Please, give us more pictures from The Holy City.
They are wonderful.
From Felisol
Both good fun and interesting; isn't it what a meme is supposed to be?
Well that is just a very clever idea. I can see that the tractor might be able to get down the steps but I'm not sure about the trailer of trash.
What a clever way to do what needs to be done! The tractor would certainly be a surprise at the top of a flight of stairs like this!
And I learned something new thanks to you and your sharp eyes!
Talking of surprises!!
I would loved to have known how he proceeded his journey though!
PS: I read the comments and it seems it does go up? I have to see that!
Unbelievable!!
But true!
That bright green modern tractor against the ancient steps is SO the Old City. Great captures. Wish I could spend hours there with my camera, just hanging out in the narrow streets and alleys. Love how you found the little sign first (probably thought Ruby Tuesday, too).
very clever, and funny! what an interesting alley...
Lol, that's real funny ! I also have seen funny signs in Morocco like a camel crossing, signs I had never seen here before.
That is great!
Very clever posting. . .fact is usually stranger than fiction! Nicely done.
LOL, I loved these shots. The tractor is fabulous...and how true, Jerusalem is full of surprises. Thanks for sharing these shots with us. :)
What a Great Memory. I wouldn't have believed it unless you posted it.
Now, I might expect a "tractor crossin" in rural Texas, but not in "the Old City!" What luck that you were there at just the right moment.
I love your photography!
Thank you! Thank you! I can't stop laughing! I didn't expect that there will be a tractor for real! I didn't. That was a cathartic surprise! Life is so rich - you just look around and keep going - it will reward you for enjoying it!
What incredible timing for you ... what a fabulous capture!
Talk about a rough ride! Yeah, I'd imagine trying to back ghat sucker out would be at least as tough as driving it up the steps.
Very inventive way to do the job though. Magiceye had a similar shot from Mumbai where the alleys are even narrower -- but don't involve steps.
Thatis so big vehicle that that sign was well needed there !!!! But very odd place to drive tractor indeed.
Wow! It's pretty common to see those things cruising along on the country roads around here, but that's pretty wild to see one there. I would love to see it driving up the stairs.
Funny the things we see if we hang around long enough!
Very ingenious! Love this suprise you've brought us today.
I'm with Felisol - more pics please.
Wow! Who would have thought that picking up trash that way was even possible there? Too cool.
Oh My, if there was an award for best post of the week on ANY blog ANYWHERE - this would be it. Necessity is truly the mother of invention.
LOL, sure didn't expect that!
Kewl series ... totally caught ME by surprise too! Isn't it amazing what we notice when looking through our cameras with various themes (or memes) in mind ;--)
Hugs and blessings,
Oh my gosh...how clever. I would have never thought. Like you say ya learn something new every day :)
Dang Robin,
that is too funny, the look on the drivers face as he sees you snapping pictures? What the heck! Hope you don't mind I am going to share your RT post for this week on facebook ok?
i don't think i've ever seen that before! thanks for teaching me something new about one of my favorite places:-)
I would have laughed out loud. That looks CRAZY!
I won't complain about tight turns for quite awhile!
wow!!
What an interesting photo! I have learned something here...haha the look on his face.
Great shots and an interesting story to go with them.
if you go to unitedhatzalah.org, you can watch a video of an "ambulance tractor" called to help a woman in labor. It shows the ambulance maneuvering through the narrow streets, and going up the steps.
I'd completely forgotten about that video izzy, I'd seen it last year. Really amazing stuff, thanks for the reminder.
Here's the direct link:
Old City Crew Deliver a Baby in a Tractor Ambulance
omigosh, Robin! That video is absolutely amazing. I have tears standing in my eyes. I'm so glad you drew it to my attention. Hugs from across the world, Annie.
Ingenious indeed! I love learning and seeing new things. It opens up my horizons - so thank you! :o)
that is so bizarre! i imagine he'd still be able to get over those steps though... :)
That is so funny! Oh I love it! This is one of the things about blogging: you don't get to see things like that anywhere else.
I have two shots of funny signs taken this year, I'll try to find them and post them for you to see in a future WW!
great timing, i must say. i would love to see Jerusalem myself in the future:) great capture of a place full of character:)
Fabulous. In a very narrow alley in Marrakesh, we saw a "no donkeys" sign. Cracked us up.
Amazing, Robin! I can't imagine the little tractor going up and down the stairs, but I guess it does, Ha! :)
Nice pictures- that was very cool.
I like this set of photos! They look so "historic".
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