Monday, February 16, 2009

Within the Old City

Jerusalem's Old City, inside the old Turkish wall, may be only 0.9 square kilometers in area; but the intensity, the history, the mix of religions and peoples--these are very big.
It is said that even before the creation of the world, God had the map of Jerusalem on his palm. What a lovely image, that legend.
One of the best views of the Dome of the Rock is from the roof of the Austrian Hospice.
Stepping out of the gate of the quiet old Austrian Hospice, you immediately merge into the bustling pedestrian traffic of the Muslim Quarter. This man is selling hot saḥlab, the pudding made from ground orchid tubers.
Tourists like these always flock to the narrow streets of the Muslim and the Christian Quarters.
It is like one big souk (or shuk in Hebrew), an endless bazaar.
Bright colors abound.
A favorite souvenir--ceramics and the famous Armenian tiles.


"Please, come into my shop. You are welcome!" The Arab shopkeepers invite the pilgrims in in many different languages.
You, too, dear blog readers, are welcome in Jerusalem. Hope to see you here someday. Shalom!
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For a hundred new blogger-guided tours of far-flung places, visit That's My World Tuesday, starting again tonight.

31 comments:

  1. What an interesting tour, Dina. Thanks for sharing this fine sequence of views.
    Have a good week ahead

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  2. Beautiful pictures of Jerusalem! They make me want to come visit! Thank you for sharing and have a good weekend!

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  3. A great tour, Dina! Always love your shots of Jerusalem. Thanks for sharing and have a good week!

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  4. This was a great my world post. I enjoyed the tour so much.

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  5. That city must offer its people a very different sense of time. So beautiful and ancient and enduring.

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  6. our old town is very much a quiet one now, untilt he tourist season opens in april - but who knows what will happen with the economic crisis?

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  7. Suddenly I want to go shopping! LOL I loved this tour, and enjoyed the photographs--thanks for sharing these!

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  8. I love the arrow streets and bustling crowds of the old parts of the city. Everything is so colourful.

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  9. I love the ceramics and tiles.
    How true that the history and significance of the old city is so much bigger than one would guess from its size.

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  10. Thank you.I have enjoyed that walk. I spent some time in Israel working on a Kibbutz oh I remember those colourful bazaars.

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  11. I love to follow you, Dina, in your walk in the center city.
    It's always a pleasure to visit different "colored" quarters.

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  12. I remember the markets in the old city. Lots of fun and very exotic - you've captured them well.

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  13. Great series for MyWorld, Dina! The Dome of the Rock is really beautiful - I hope to see it one day. But my faves are the tiels and ceramics - I could go broke in a place like that!

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  14. A great tour. The shops look very inviting. All the bright colors reminds me of Mexican markets.
    Thanks for sharing a part of your world.

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  15. Oh how I wish I could still fly! The Prof. was in Israel years ago but I never made it. We had some very dear friends there. I would love it all, the different temples and churches, the suks and those magical Armenian tiles!
    Thank you for posting all these wonders.

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  16. Jerusalem is one of the places I'd like to see and you have given here a very nice of glimpse of what it's all about there.

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  17. That takes me back. Wasn't there long enough. Its the sort of place to just wander, not follow a tour guide (which I was doing).

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  18. Faced with so many choices like this, I'll end up not buying anything. Wonderful view, dizzying array and fascinating walk, thank you.

    I adore the tiles!

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  19. Hi Dina,
    Glad you liked my little history lesson...I think she liked male company don't you...?

    I would love to come to Jerusalem, one of the places must visit.
    Through the Bible stories I feel as though I know it well.....
    great post thank you.... :-)

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  20. Very interesting and so colorful. Thanks for sharing.

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  21. Wonderful pictures, that actually remind me of trips to Turkish markets alot.

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  22. It looks like the souks in Egypt. I love the first picture with this golden cupola !

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  23. I hope to visit Jerusalem some day! The shots of the souvenir are so tempting! Lovely post, Dina!

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  24. Great photos. Thanks for sharing them. I love to travel to Jerusalem one day.

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  25. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

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  26. As far as I'm concerned, you could post endless photos of the city. It is fascinating.

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  27. In answer to your question. I spent 6 months on Kibbutz Haon in 1980 and I loved it.

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  28. beautiful Dina
    Thanks for this amazing walk. Each armenian tile has so much rich cultural religious and historical traditions like the tiles of your posts.

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