Free Day Walking and Exploring the Old City


January 15, 2019
Free Day Walking and Exploring the Old City

We had our free day without any schedule to adhere to from dawn until dusk.  After breakfast we walked past the Citadel and down the Armenian Patriarchate Rd. to an Armenian Ceramic shop where we purchased two unique ceramic Christmas Ornaments.  Today was a cloudless day and somewhat moderate temperatures.  Having forgot my iPhone/camera, we walked back to the hotel to retrieve that and drop off the ornaments.  Retracing out walk, we turned onto St. James street
and continued to the Cordo where we did some shopping. 
We continued walking through the market streets and across an Alabama Heart of Dixie shop. 
The owner was from Huntsville and his brother is at the University of Alabama.  So, he brought Alabama to Jerusalem with a shop of Alabama and Roll Tide items.  Along the way we saw everything imaginable for sale – slaughtered animals hanging, candies, fruits, spices, clothing, souvenirs, ceramics, wood carvings, etc.  

Our walk took us to the Damascus gate, which we exited
Approaching Damascus Gate

Fresh Herbs for Sale

and turned right to walk along the northern wall past the Herod gate to the corner and turn to walk along the eastern wall through the Muslim cemetery
toward the Golden Gate,  We entered the St. Stephen gate and stopped for coffee at a bookstore coffee shop


just past the Church of the Flagellation. 
After working out way through the maze of streets in the Muslim quarter we entered the Cordo and headed to the hotel for a break.  At 2:30 pm we left to walk to St. James Armenian Church where there would be a 3:00 pm service that included the seminary students.   
St. James Exterior

St. James Interior

After the service concluded at 3:30 we walked until we exited the Lion Gate. 
From here we could walk along the wall back to Jaffe Gate and our hotel.  We covered a lot of territory and now it was time to reorganize and repack for our trip home on Thursday.  Tomorrow we will be back on a scheduled day and probably won’t have much time to get ready for Thursday.

Comments

  1. EmilyJanuary 15, 2019 at 3:09 PM

    This sounds like my kind of day! I love all of the shops and unique items for sale...and who would have known you could find an Alabama shop in Israel!

    ReplyDelete

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