Hidden away behind high walls and enormous wooden doors, the Armenian Quarter is one of the less visited neighborhoods in Jerusalem (and therefore one that I like more). They still use those doors too – the gates to this city within a city are closed early each evening: Of course, apparently having the most cats … Continue reading
The highlights – such as the Wailing Wall and the Dome of the Rock – are in Jerusalem’s Old City, but modern Jerusalem which surrounds the Old City is more dynamic and interesting than many people give it credit for: Some of the residential neighborhoods in the hills surrounding the city: The Mount of Olives … Continue reading
When it was built as a simple retaining wall supporting the outer portion of the Temple Mount some 2,000 years ago, I’m sure the builders would have had a difficult time getting their minds around the fact that their modest creation would become the most sacred site in the world for Jewish people: What makes … Continue reading
Everyone can find something on their grocery list at the Mahane Yehuda Market and with bargain prices as a kicker, all manner of Jerusalem’s residents converge here. This makes it a fun site to visit – both for people watching and the products on display. The entrances are somewhat narrow and are watched carefully as … Continue reading
Named for the olive groves that used to cover it, the Mount of Olives can be seen in the distance of this picture taken from the base of the Temple Mount… If you look carefully at the writing on the graves in the foreground, you can see that this is a cemetery for those of … Continue reading
Thousands of years old, home to events such as the crucifixion of Jesus and locations such as the Dome of the Rock which is holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims, conquered by everyone from Nebuchadnezzar to Alexander the Great to the Romans to the Persians to Saladin to the Turks to the British – I … Continue reading
Given how much ink has been spilled about this site over the thousands of years (and with the rise of the digital age – ones and zeroes over the past tens of years), it is difficult to say much that has not already been said… Although this site has been controlled by Muslims since Jerusalem … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 