Life in Jerusalem
Life in Jerusalem has its’ own pace, it swings between the rich in history and religious values to one group testing out other. Often, this leads to violence and other types of restrictions. Life still moves on, albeit on a knife edge.
During my visit, the bazaar in the Muslim Quarter on Friday was quiet and there was high security presence everywhere. A tourist girl took photos of the soldiers and then showed them to get their approval. Most of the shops were closed on Friday evening in the bazaar but few were open, selling memorabilia. Few blocks down, there was an enactment of Jesus carrying cross on the Via Dolorosa.
In the morning, I saw a Palestinian on a rooftop looking after his pigeon in the Eastern Jerusalem. Down the road, the Israeli police stopped two Palestinian youths on side of a road for security check. They were kept there for almost 45 minutes.
A small tractor in one of the streets in the Old Quarter. These small machines are used to collect the rubbish. Around Damascus Gate, there are many vegetable sellers, displaying their produce on side of the street. Damascus Gate was constructed in 1537 by Suleiman the Magnificent.
A path goes to the to the Temple Mount but I was denied on security grounds. Then I tried my luck through a gate beside the Western Wall, used by the tourists. It was a very long queue and I waited patiently for almost 90 minutes. I was so close to get inside but Israeli security closed it five minutes earlier than normal time and I was unable to get inside. There were two more queues to get access to the Western Wall Plaza. The men and women were screened separately.
