Making the most of it

And when one has some bonus time - what is better than exploring that which one is leaving behind? We walked the ramparts of the Old City with good friends. Walking on top of the city walls is really cool, if I may so. It gives you a very different perspective and it gives you access to see things, which you would never be allowed in to see from below. It was a rather sweaty affair with the temperature being in the high 30Cs, but getting to see the city from above and from different angels than normal, was really amazing.

Looking from Damascus Gate (well from on top of it, anyway) towards the Dome of the Rock. Usually I see the Dome of the Rock from the other side - from Jaffa Gate looking towards Damascus Gate. The passage way in the right hand side corner is the path/market going into the Old City from Damascus Gate. Really so much fun to be able to see it from above!

The Latin Patriarchate (Roman Catholic Church) have their own little vineyard, fig trees and other trees and bushes on top of the roof. A hidden oasis in the middle of so many people, buildings and roof tops.

Allah Hu Achbar (Allah is Great) Arabic roof top iron work looking towards the Latin Patriarchate. Everything is close and on top of each other in the Old City! The different religions meet everywhere - also in the air.

Even priests have to get ready somewhere... I loved seeing this priest taking time to talk this man while he was in the middle of putting on his garb. They seemed so engaged in their conversation, I snapped this photo.

Afterwards we went into Zedekiah's cave (also called Solomon's mine), which is quite incredible - a cave underneath the Old City, mostly the Muslim Quarter, of a length of 230 meters! I love these kinds of unexpected experiences. I find it almost surreal to think about this expanse of openness underneath the city, upon which I have walked so many times, thinking I was walking on solid ground...

We went on from there to enjoy hummus with a friend and then on to more explorations of the Old City, which included Bethesda, where they say Mary, Jesus' mother was born. There also used to be a medicinal bath there, with natural and pools and such. I have to admit, I have never, NEVER, associated Jerusalem with natural pools and water, so that was a really new thing for me to learn.

It really was a wonderful day. I learnt so much about the city where I have lived for the past 7 years. I am so grateful for this time to keep learning and experiencing it! And it just goes to show - there is always more to see!