A Walk and Some Thoughts in the Old City

Gates of Old Jerusalem

Today was a free day and we took the opportunity to enjoy a late breakfast before taking a Taxi to the Zion Gate. There are seven open gates into the old city and four gates which are closed.  The open gates, with their dates of construction are:  New Gate (1887),Damascus Gate (1537), Herod's Gate (unknown), Lion's Gate (1538-39), Dung Gate (1538-40), Zion Gate (1540) and Jaffa Gate (1530-40).  The first three are on the Northern side of the Old City, Lion's Gate is on the Eastern side, Dung and Zion Gates are on the Southern side and the Jaffa Gate is on the Western side.  The major closed gate is the Golden Gate, built in the sixth century and sealed in 1541.

We entered through the Zion Gate, making our leisurely way through the Jewish Quarter and into the Cardo.  This is a Roman era main street which runs North and South.  More to the point, in Jerusalem it is a shopping street with all sorts of interesting stalls.

In the Cardo

We followed this street until we found the Via Dolorosa leading from the Lion's Gate to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. 

After Jesus' arrest and conviction this was the route he walked to his crucifiction.  Five of the stations of the Cross are actually inside the Church, but the other seven are found on the Via Dolorosa itself. 

The Fifth Station of the Cross
Simon of Cyrene carries the Cross

We finished our walk by returning to the Cardo and continuing northward to the Damascus Gate.

The Cardo is fascinating.  Hundreds of small shops and stalls, the smells of food cooking, herbs, spices and others less easy to identify.  It is crowded with people buying, selling and bargaining.  Many of the shops have quite young children behind the counters or spruiking for trade.

A Spice Dealer in the Cardo

One of the things that we noticed was the freedom of the children.  No matter where we turned we saw them coming from school, going to the shops, or just playing, totally unaccompanied by adults.  It seemed as if the Cardo itself was watching out for them.


We exited through the Muslim Quarter via the Damascus Gate and  walked back to the hotel past the bustling Arab bus station.

The Damascus Gate

People Exiting the Muslim Quarter
through the Damascus Gate