We got to Jerusalem in the middle of the afternoon, and we were both sort of exhausted–Kris because she's got pneumonia, and me because I was feeling the effects of breathing in a sandstorm we're having here in Israel.
But after a brief rest, I got up and walked the 20 minutes down the street into the Old City of Jerusalem. I had no idea what to expect, and after wandering there for a couple of hours, I'm still not sure. But what I can say is pretty much just a catalog of things I saw: souvenir shops, and shops with actual arts and crafts I would buy if I had a house; very religiously observant people, and secular people; natives and tourists; a very obvious security presence, including frequent pairs of Israeli soldiers slinging automatic rifles, and loud kids on skateboards. I only stopped at one “historical” site: the Western Wall, where I snapped some pictures.
But mostly I just wandered the warrens of the narrow streets of the Old City of Jerusalem and looked at a city unlike any I've ever seen before.
Some posts on Travel Past 50 may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, we may earn a small commission. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Israel is a truly amazing place– I have been there three times– The western wall, Al Aqsua mosque and the 12 stations of the cross and church of the holy Sepulchere are so close together that you could see all three in 10 minutes walking time– maybe less These are the holiest shrines in Christianity, Judiasm and 2nd holiest in Islam
Started to go out for a walk yesterday, but a quarter inch of sleet had brought the entire city to a standstill. Almost every shop was closed and the streets were almost completely deserted. It was above freezing and the snow was melted off almost immediately after it hit the ground. It was actually sort of funny, but made it hard to get food or to see anything. Maybe the city will open up again today.
Of your Jerusalem photos, this is by far my favorite!
I like this one too, but my fave is the old man on the stairs in front of Dome of the Rock.