The Wishing Bridge
During our visit to Old Jaffa, we stopped at the entrance to the Wishing Bridge. The sign describes a local legend: anyone who stands on the bridge, holds the image of their zodiac sign, looks toward the sea, and makes a wish will have that wish come true.
The bridge is decorated with twelve bronze sculptures representing the signs of the zodiac. At its entrance is a stone mosaic depicting the zodiac wheel. These features are part of a larger zodiac theme found throughout Old Jaffa, where a number of its narrow lanes are named for the different signs.
The bridge overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and connects two areas within Old Jaffa. Although it does not represent the ancient history of Jaffa in the way its archaeological remains and historic buildings do, it has become a popular modern attraction within the old city.
Our stop at the Wishing Bridge gave us a chance to participate in one of Old Jaffa’s more lighthearted traditions. Surrounded by zodiac symbols and looking toward the Mediterranean, visitors are invited to pause for a moment and quietly make a wish.
Read More
Read More From Nancy
The Yigal Allon Centre
On the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the Yigal Allon Centre brings together regional history, personal remembrance, and education. Established in 1986, it houses the Museum of “Man in the Galilee,” which explores the lives of people who have settled, worked, and built communities in this landscape across generations. The centre is named for […]
A Boat Ride on the Sea of Galilee
During our visit to Israel, Marty and I took a boat out onto the Sea of Galilee. Surrounded by hills and stretching quietly beneath the open sky, the water offered a peaceful contrast to the busy cities and crowded historic sites we encountered elsewhere in the country. Despite its name, the Sea of Galilee is […]
The Grotto of the Annunciation
During our visit to Nazareth, Marty and I entered the Basilica of the Annunciation, one of Christianity’s most important pilgrimage churches. Within the lower level of the basilica is the Grotto of the Annunciation, traditionally believed to be part of Mary’s home and the place where the Angel Gabriel appeared to her. According to the […]
