Friday 11 April 2014

A-Z Blogging Challenge - Jerusalem

Stepping outside Europe today, as I haven't been to Jerez, Jutland, or Juan-les-Pins, and I only have a photo of the hotel where we once stayed overnight in Jena.

I've visited Jerusalem once, as part of a three-day cruise from Cyprus about twenty years ago.


You might wonder what this photo is doing in a blog about Jerusalem. The reason is that this is the café where we stopped just a few miles outside Jerusalem. Yes, an Elvis-themed café, with Elvis memorabilia and posters, Elvis 'souvenirs' on sale, and Elvis songs playing non-stop. Bizarre!
 

Here's our first view of Jerusalem as we drove towards the city from Bethlehem.


Our first stop was at the Jaffa Gate, where we were accosted by dozens of small boys, all offering us a dozen postcards - 'very cheap - very cheap'.

On into the Old City, which was a warren of narrow crowded streets.

Our guide rushed us through the bazaar, even though I could have spent ages in some of the small shops, like this one.

We also had a rushed, and very crowded, visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
After this our guide left us for about ninety minutes at the Wailing Wall. We didn't have a map, so didn't dare venture too far away fear of getting lost, and we couldn't even find a café nearby!
We discovered later that other groups had been taken on a far more extensive tour of the city, but the only other sight we saw was this view of the Mount of Olives (taken during a five minute photo stop)

Then we were rushed off to visit a diamond factory somewhere - although I think our guide's hopes of some commission from sales came to nothing, as none of us could afford the prices of the diamonds.
So, although I can say I have 'been' to Jerusalem, it was a disappointing visit, and I'd love to return to see more of it.

8 comments:

  1. All tours aren't created equal, we found that out too. It looks very hot there too. I wouldn't have been pleased to find the tour guide had left the group unattended. . .but thanks for sharing the photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We were less than impressed by this particular tour guide, D.G.!

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. I'd love to go back and see more of it, Claudia.

      Delete
  3. I hope someday to go, and hope you get to return!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope you get the opportunity to go one day, Jen.

      Delete
  4. Elvis in Jerusalem?! How funny.

    We've been talking about the Mount of Olives at school since we're drawing near to Easter. How fabulous to put a modern picture to it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Mount of Olives wasn't anything like I'd imagined it.

      Delete