Hobbit Soccer

One evening a few weeks ago, I decided to do something nice for myself. On the way home from work, I got myself a bottle of Guiness in one of those bottle stores by the shuk and headed off into one of the most charming little old-new neighborhoods of Jerusalem. I thought it was called Nachla'ot. But according to this sign, the name's Mazkeret Moshe.



This neighborhood's got these teeny little hovel-like homes some of which have very short doors giving the impression that hobbits live in them, thus the heading of this post.

So right in the middle of this neighborhood there is the tiniest little asphalt soccer court with a really tall fence to keep the ball in.


A small group of 17-21 year-old-guys with long hair and street clothes was playing, having the time of their lives. One guy tried to make a move, tripped over himself and fell to the groud. His whole body throbbed and jiggled for quite a while from.... laughter. He finally pulled himself out of it and stood up with the biggest smile on his face. What was so funy? Well, lets say you hadda be there. Actually, it wasn't enough to be there, you hadda to be him, or at least able to see inside him which I'm not so good at yet! Anyway, he was laughing and enjoying himself. And I was happy for him.

Meanwhile, a group of tourists came by. Not your typical tourists. These were IDF soldiers appearantly on an educational activity. One soldier made sure they were in the right place and pulled out a fact sheet about the area. "This used to be a Roman theater, the British used to torture prisoners in that building, Monteffiores' horse coughed over on that street...ect, ect..."

The contrast between the two groups was amazing. These guys were falling all over themselves and throbbing with joy. While these guys (and girls) stood in the same place but were following a controlled and controlling script for recreation. Go to the specified location. Read the specified text for a certain length of time and on an on and on until someone in charge decides that the task has been completed enough to say, "lets eat," which eventually someone did.

And there I was with my Guiness, wondering why they put that stupid plastic ball inside the bottle and considering how I might share this sight with others.

At the time, I thought, "too bad I don't have my camera with me." So I came back another day to take these pictures. That day was a very different kind of day - cold, rainy, no soldiers, no hobbit soccer, no Guiness...