In the heart of Jerusalem you can find King David Street, a photogenic and tranquil street. With the King David Hotel on one side of the street and the YMCA on the other, there are many possibilities for wonderful shots of two of Jerusalem’s recognizable structures.
The King David Hotel, one of the most exclusive hotels in the city, often accommodates foreign dignitaries on official visits. The original building was completed in 1931 and was the site of an Irgun (a Jewish underground organization) bomb attack in 1946, which killed 91 people and destroyed the southern wing of the hotel. The southern wing was rebuilt in the mid 1960s and three stories were added, all the while restoring the hotel’s original elaborate style and design.
The YMCA is a building that stands out amongst the Jerusalem landscape due to its soaring observation tower. Built in the 1920’s, the YMCA’s main goal has always been to unite the three main religions of Jerusalem: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The carefully detailed architecture of the building is ripe with symbolism relating to all three religions. Today the building houses different activities aiming to foster understanding between races and faiths.
If you place your camera in the right spot you can include both structures in one shot, which reflects the nature of Jerusalem - a modern city with a rich history.