Jewish Quarter of the Old City

I was hoping to go into the old city one more time before we had to leave Jerusalem. I wanted to do a bit of souvenirs for home and I wanted to walk there the Jewish Quarter, since we had seen the three other parts of the city. We had to go to the center of Jerusalem and then we made our way to the old city, but of coarse, we got lost. Seth drove us into the orthodox Jewish slums. The roads were so narrow and the children and adults were all into their orthodox dress. We were stopped in the road because a couple of guys were pushing a big potato cart up the street and our car and the cart didn't fit in the same space. I told Seth I was glad we got lost. It was incredible to see this way of life. I felt like we had been pushing back a couple centuries. I have a picture painted in my mind of narrow cobblestone street with a two kids running up the side with the men pushing the potato cart. It amazed me. After a bit of winding thru the streets, we made it to Damascus Gate. This is an entrance into Muslim Quarters, but had some fun shopping.  

Here is the kids in front of Damascus Gate. As we walked into the gate, Jake turned to Seth and said,"Don't fall, k, Dad." Seth and I chuckled at this smart little boy. Smart enough to remember where we were and he was watching out for his Dad. 

We did some shopping and ran into this little "local" boy. Ha. Since we have some traditional dress from Hawaii, we decided to get some traditional dress for the kids in Israel. Jake is wearing an Arabic robe. It was so cute on him I had to bargain with the shopkeepers and it wasn't helpful that they had already put it on him. It made it harder to walk away, and that was how you got the better price. The shekels would drop in half by just walking away. 

After lunch and some shopping we made it to the Jewish Quarter. You know when you have entered into a different quarter of the city the instant you step into a different quarter. They each have a very different feel. 

This is a part of the Jewish Quarter where it shows the different layers of the city. The bottom layer the kids are looking down on is the layer time of Herod when Christ would have walked thru the city. The kids said it smelled like Lazarus tomb- which smelled like musty goat toots. 

Jake, who marches to his own drum, made his way down for a picture as well.

This is the kids looking down onto the Cardo street below.

The Cardo

The Cardo was built during the Roman's rule of Jerusalem and and was a market place, but also a place where people came to meet and talk. As shown below in the City of Jerusalem Mosaic, the Cardo, was the center and life of the city. I also learned from my super smart friend, Candice, that the Cardo was were people came to discuss religion. Many debate were held here in the street. 

Here is a painting depicting the Cardo.

Jake was posing on the pillar.

You can see in the walls the different eras of the old city. 

Chillin' at the Cardo.

The kids in the Jewish Quarter streets.

Of coarse Jake, the non-conformist, won't join the kids for a picture, but then ask to take his picture. Here you go Jake.

Love the massive arch ways.

Shalom.

We made our way back through the Muslim Quarter and up to Damascus Gate. I love the hustle and bustle of the Old City markets.

As we were walking out I asked Jake if he wanted a picture with the army guys. He had been talking about them all day. You see them every where. So I asked them if Jake could take a picture with them. They pull him up on the wall and it took me a minute to take the picture. Then Jake asked them,"Do you shoot good guys?" They smiled and said, "No." Jake nodded and waved good bye. They were still chuckling as we walked away. Jake is so curious and funny. Of coarse he wasn't going to ask them about bad guys, he already knew about them, but just wanted to make sure about the good guys.