Jerusalem the Golden

 

Morning light hits the pale limestone 

of the buildings in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem stone is a name applied to 

various types of pale limestone, 

dolomite and dolomitic limestone.

This is common in and around Jerusalem 

and has been a building material since ancient times.

I had heard of Jerusalem the Golden 

but in 8 trips to Israel -

 just had never quite seen the transformation.

Either we came into the city too late to see,

cloudy or rainy days obscured the light,

or maybe my hotel room 

was on the wrong side to witness the event.

 I have heard that sunset can do the

 very same thing as this morning glow.

Meleke, the "royal" stone is a white, 

coarse crystalline limestone

 and has been used in buildings like the Western Wall

 and other parts of the Herodian Temple.

It is easy to quarry, but exposure to air causes it to harden 

and develop the characteristic pale yellow hue.

The original Herodian stone on the Southern Steps

 dates back to the time of Jesus.

There is something about the 

streets of Jerusalem.

The narrow streets, the wide stairs

 and the cart ramps.

The laid stone that is the same

 as the walls of the buildings.

Jerusalem the Golden-

you are truly a unique and beautiful city.