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Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Israel’s self-declared capital is perhaps one of the most fascinating
and beautiful cities in the world and the holiest city for all three religions of
the Holy Book – Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
There are three districts of Jerusalem: the Old City, East Jerusalem and the New
City.
The Old City: The major tourist attraction in Jerusalem, both for religious and
historical reasons. Dating back 3,000 years, the City is surrounded by fortified
walls that house some of the holiest site in Israel. The area known as the Temple
Mount is the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, where Jews pray. On the
Noble Sanctuary is the al-Aqsa Mosque and the golden-topped Dome of the Rock, where
Muslims Quarter and then the Christian Quarter, is the route Jesus took as he carried
his cross to Calvary. Other places to visit are the Pool of Bethesda, a spring-fed
pool supposed to possess healing qualities (John 5:2-4). Here Jesus healed a man
who had been lame for 38 years (John 5:5-9). The Church of Flagellation is the site
where Jesus was flogged.
Walking the streets of the Old City is a memorable experience in itself, with narrow
cobbled streets and alleys with market traders on either side. The loud calls of
the traders fight for your attention as you meander through the maze of Arab markets
losing any sense direction. The smells and sights of herbs and spices, traditional
and modern clothes, street food – falafel and shwarma, fresh fruit and vegetables
– and the essential gifts of Jerusalem memorabilia add to the ambience. People are
friendly and seem to speak the language of every tourist passing, attending to your
every need in return for a purchase.
East Jerusalem is home to the Rockefeller Museum, and the Garden Tomb – considered
to be a possible site of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection. It is also the
site of the Tourjeman Post Museum.
East Jerusalem is a Palestinian district, with small shops, businesses and cheap
accommodation, considered an alternative to residing in the Old City.
The New City that surrounds the old one is predominantly Jewish. It is modern and
vibrant, offering shops, restaurants and cafes. It is also home to the Knesset building,
the Israel Museum and the Holocaust memorial museum of Yad Vashem.
Jerusalem, city of majestic qualities and hospitality.
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