Home          Mosques          Muslim Heritage          Personalities          Travel         Contact Us


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.

Cars parked close to the Lions Gate
The Gate of the Tribes (Bab al-Asbat in Arabic), is located at the north-eastern corner of the Temple Mount
The Gate of the Tribes (Bab al-Asbat in Arabic), is located at the north-eastern corner of the Temple Mount
An arch shaped passage in the Old Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem
Bazaar in the Muslim Quarter on Friday
A fresh fruit juice seller in the bazaar
Israeli security personnel in the Old City
Israeli security personnel in the Old City
This girl took photos of the soldiers and then showed them to get their approval
This girl took photos of the soldiers and then showed them to get their approval
An enactment of Jesus carrying cross on the Via Dolorosa
Most of the shops were closed on Friday
Most of the shops were closed on Friday
One of the shopkeepers peeking out for the potential customers
A shop filled with the local memorabilia
A shop filled with the local memorabilia
This shop was selling handicrafts mostly but having said it still other stuff as well
This shop was selling handicrafts mostly but having said it still other stuff as well
Tourists walking in the narrow bazaar of Muslim Quarter
Tourists walking in the narrow bazaar of Muslim Quarter
This young seller was making fresh juice close to the Jaffa Gate
This young seller was making fresh juice close to the Jaffa Gate
A section of the Jerusalem City Walls and the Omar bin el-Khatab road
A section of the Jerusalem City Walls and the Omar bin el-Khatab road

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.

An orthodox jew passes beside the city walls - the walls were built between 1535 and 1538 by Ottoman sultan Suleyman I
An orthodox jew passes beside the city walls - the walls were built between 1535 and 1538 by Ottoman sultan Suleyman I
Olive tress and city walls close to the Herod's Gate
Olive tress and city walls close to the Herod's Gate
A quiet bus station and lone palm trees close to the Damascus Gate
A quiet bus station and lone palm trees close to the Damascus Gate
A palestinian on a rooftop looking after his pigeon
A palestinian on a rooftop looking after his pigeon
The Israeli police stopped two Palestinian youths on side of a road for security check
A small boy on his way to school in the Muslim Quarter
A small boy on his way to school in the Muslim Quarter
A woman seller on al-Wad Street in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem
A woman seller on al-Wad Street in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem
A vegetable seller close to the Damascus Gate
A vegetable seller close to the Damascus Gate
Israeli security in front of the Damascus Gate
Israeli security in front of the Damascus Gate
The bus station is loctaed on RHS - I took bus from here to go to Bethlehem
The bus station is loctaed on RHS - I took bus from here to go to Bethlehem
Looking back at the Damascus Gate from the bus station
Looking back at the Damascus Gate from the bus station
An Arabic style seats which are very low to the ground
An Arabic style seats which are very low to the ground
A small tractor in the Old Quarter
A small tractor in the Old Quarter
These tractors are used to bring the rubbish out of the city
These tractors are used to bring the rubbish out of the city
A deserted bazaar in Jerusalem
A deserted bazaar in Jerusalem

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.

An empty street in the Old City
An empty street in the Old City
A woman with a child - life in Jerusalem
Tourists standing beside the Dung Gate (seen from inside)
Queue to get access to the Temple Mount for tourists
Queue to get access to the Temple Mount for tourists
It was a very long queue
Security cabins at the entrance of the Temple Mount
Queue for the Western Wall - Life in Jerusalem
A sign warning Jewish people not to enter the Temple Mount area but as I saw later they were visiting it
A Jew on a phone in the Jewish Quarter
Visitors coming to the Western Wall Plaza from the street which is opposite the Dung Gate
Visitors coming to the Western Wall Plaza from the street which is opposite the Dung Gate
Jews praying at the Western Wall
Tourists walking in the Jewish Quarter
Tourists walking in the Jewish Quarter
A map on a wall showing the sites and streets in the Jewish Quarter
A map on a wall showing the sites and streets in the Jewish Quarter
Security personnel on duty
A busy cafe in the Old Quarter (Jewish) - this part of Jerusalem seemed to be more lively than the rest
A busy cafe in the Old Quarter (Jewish) - this part of Jerusalem seemed to be more lively than the rest