Religious Jews Pondering
Jaffa Gate - an entrance into the Old City
numbered stones to aid in reconstruction
Third Station of the Cross
There is nothing more awe inspiring than walking through the Old City. It is extraordinarily special and I discover something new each time I walk through the courtyards and the winding alleyways. I often stay at the David Citadel Hotel and walk through the new Alrov Mamilla mall to get to Jaffa Gate. It is perhaps the most "authentic" of malls since the builders obviously went to great pains to maintain the ancient feeling of the stone facades. Of course, this is in huge contrast to the contemporary art, souvenir, and restaurants that line this pedestrian mall.
Upon entering the mall, you see the familiar retail establishments including Steimatsky's (wonderful bookstore), Aroma and Rimonin (restaurants), Ronen Chen and Naot (clothing and shoes), and of course H. Stern (exquisite jewelry). It is interesting to note the numbers of some of the stone buildings. These are original stones that have been numbered to aid in reconstructing the buildings. Families and couples, Jews and Arabs love to promenade through the Mall making it a very popular meeting place for all. After climbing the stairs and gazing at the amazing view of the Old City walls, Jaffa Gate beckons you into the city. There are the souvenir and food shops of the Arab Shuk, the narrow road through the Armenian quarter, and the stone stairways eventually getting you to the Cardo and the Jewish Quarter. Again, you can find numerous souvenir and jewelry stores as well as kiosks and restaurants. It is hard to imagine that the Jewish Quarter of this ancient city was in ruins before it was recaptured from Jordan in 1967. One really believes that this sacred piece of land truly belongs to all faiths -- the Via Dolorosa, the Stations of the Cross, the Kotel, and the Dome of the Rock represent the convergence of all faiths into this one ancient and magnificent city.
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