So far I've taken hundreds of photos with my proper camera, but only two with my iPhone, and iPhone photos are sooooo much easier to upload at this point, so I'm afraid they're all I'll be posting until I get home.
I do believe we are staying in a place with the most picturesque balconies in all of Jerusalem. Given that this is my first trip to Jerusalem, I could be wrong. But in any case, this place is fairly fantastic.
Today was a day filled with loads of walking, getting denied entrance to the Dome of the Rock from several entrances, "Muslims only! Come back at 12:30," (We opted to return another day and press on to other sites) The Pool of Bethesda, The Western Wall (Wailing Wall), The Jewish Quarter and walking much of the perimeter of the Muslim quarter trying to find the Rampart Walk. (You can walk all around the Old City atop the city wall ramparts... pretty cool, if you can find an entrance!)
The city is amazingly friendly, calm and feels much more safe than other cities I've visited in the Middle East. It is not what I expected. And it is so much more. There are people from all walks of life and faith here. Thousands of years' of history is here. And everyone claims a piece of this city for their own. The claims are written on the very walls of the buildings and the street signs. The Armenian Quarter. The Jewish Quarter. The Russian Orthodox church. Consecrated by the Dan family of Texas...
Last night, after arriving at the hostel as I lay down for a much-needed night's rest (after two days of traveling) I could hear Bo-Boom, Pop-pop-pop-pop from a distance. It sounded like fireworks, but it was something much worse. Israel firing on Gaza and Gaza returning fire. It is surreal to be so close to such devastating things, and yet the attitude all around me is nonchalant, perhaps dismissive. After all, what can the people do but go on living?
Tomorrow: More attempts at visiting the Dome of the Rock, followed by a bus ride to Bethlehem. A man in the bazaar today tried to sell my travel companions on a tour to the Mount of Olives and Bethlehem. "200 Shekels each! Very Good Price!" (About $50 each)
"Is it safe?" Asked one of the girls. (Bethlehem is in the Palestinian bounds.)
"Yes, yes, very safe." Replied the man. (Of course.) "Someone will try and tell you it is not safe. I say that he should take off a shoe and put it in his mouth."
The girls took his card and promised to call if interested. Back at our Convent/Hostel the lady at the front desk promptly told us that the easiest way to Bethlehem was a 20-minute ride on the number 21 bus from Damascus gate (behind our hostel) for 7 Shekels (About $1.75) and that it was indeed very safe and unproblematic to go there as several guests had just returned today without incident.
200 Shekels or 7? Take your pick. But the disclaimer for the Middle East should be: Buyer Beware. Here you DON'T always get what you pay for.
But you're certain to have an adventure no matter what.
That's the Middle East.
I do believe we are staying in a place with the most picturesque balconies in all of Jerusalem. Given that this is my first trip to Jerusalem, I could be wrong. But in any case, this place is fairly fantastic.
Today was a day filled with loads of walking, getting denied entrance to the Dome of the Rock from several entrances, "Muslims only! Come back at 12:30," (We opted to return another day and press on to other sites) The Pool of Bethesda, The Western Wall (Wailing Wall), The Jewish Quarter and walking much of the perimeter of the Muslim quarter trying to find the Rampart Walk. (You can walk all around the Old City atop the city wall ramparts... pretty cool, if you can find an entrance!)
The city is amazingly friendly, calm and feels much more safe than other cities I've visited in the Middle East. It is not what I expected. And it is so much more. There are people from all walks of life and faith here. Thousands of years' of history is here. And everyone claims a piece of this city for their own. The claims are written on the very walls of the buildings and the street signs. The Armenian Quarter. The Jewish Quarter. The Russian Orthodox church. Consecrated by the Dan family of Texas...
Last night, after arriving at the hostel as I lay down for a much-needed night's rest (after two days of traveling) I could hear Bo-Boom, Pop-pop-pop-pop from a distance. It sounded like fireworks, but it was something much worse. Israel firing on Gaza and Gaza returning fire. It is surreal to be so close to such devastating things, and yet the attitude all around me is nonchalant, perhaps dismissive. After all, what can the people do but go on living?
Tomorrow: More attempts at visiting the Dome of the Rock, followed by a bus ride to Bethlehem. A man in the bazaar today tried to sell my travel companions on a tour to the Mount of Olives and Bethlehem. "200 Shekels each! Very Good Price!" (About $50 each)
"Is it safe?" Asked one of the girls. (Bethlehem is in the Palestinian bounds.)
"Yes, yes, very safe." Replied the man. (Of course.) "Someone will try and tell you it is not safe. I say that he should take off a shoe and put it in his mouth."
The girls took his card and promised to call if interested. Back at our Convent/Hostel the lady at the front desk promptly told us that the easiest way to Bethlehem was a 20-minute ride on the number 21 bus from Damascus gate (behind our hostel) for 7 Shekels (About $1.75) and that it was indeed very safe and unproblematic to go there as several guests had just returned today without incident.
200 Shekels or 7? Take your pick. But the disclaimer for the Middle East should be: Buyer Beware. Here you DON'T always get what you pay for.
But you're certain to have an adventure no matter what.
That's the Middle East.
The view from our magnificent balcony at Ecce Homo Convent. Dome of the Rock in the distance.
Consecrated by the Dan family of Texas?!? Awesome.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a view. I can't wait for the 'real' photos. :)
Xoxo