Off The Beaten Track in Beit Vegan

Beit Vegan might appear a s a stodgy and boring community of Jerusalem, but there is Pinchas Amitai, Israel's expert on infectious diseases and insects that transmit them. I discovered him when out for a walk on the Achida street while suffering from an unusual mosquito bite. Seeing this mosquito on the side of the house I knew this was the greatest helpful coincidence.


Pinchas is Israel's pioneer on getting the country rid of malaria. His house is surrounded by hundreds of original and unusual plants and trees, the names of which he knows by heart.

Walking along Beit Vegan street, i spotted this famous aquarium installed by the ground-floor resident for public enjoyment:

It is always nice to discover nice little things like these in this austere, beaten-down city, awaiting the visit by GW Bush, who sees the city as Olmert's bargaining chip.