The old city of Jerusalem

On my travels I met a couple of voyagers, who didn't like the Old City of Jerusalem. When I asked them surprised why, they answered me that there were tourists everywhere, the streets were narrow and crowded or it was loud, smelled sometimes funny and there was a lot of waste on the streets. Another frequent argument (especially from Western people) was, that they got stressed out pretty easily by Arab bargainers who argued about the price and tried to rip them off.

Well, what should I answer to those people? What should I tell them?

To be honest, and that might sound a bit snotty, I feel sorry for them. Sure, the Middle East is different than the West, people live a different life and have diverse customs. For this reasons it can feel like a big cultural shock for Europeans to enter the oriental world, because it is so different from what we are used to.

But that is exactly my point! I love to travel to the Orient, because it is diverse, because the streets are not clean like in Germany, because it smells different than at home and because Arabs are often (not always) unlike us. And aren't we feisty and experienced enough to bargain with some shopkeepers for the "right" price? To tell the truth, I have never been riped off for more than a couple of euros. Not a big loss, compared to the prosperity we Europeans live in, and the poverty some shopkeepers encounter every day. I see it as part of an experience to live a different life and if you don't like it, you don't have to come back.

But how can you not want to come back to Jerusalem? How can you see only masses of tourists, bargaining salesmen or trash on the street? How can you be so blind?

I love the old city of Jerusalem because you can get an amazing impression of the three biggest religions of the world. Or because, no matter how crowded the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is, you will always find a spot to sit down and observe the pilgrims. I also love buying humus and falafel from the restaurant on al-Khanka street. And it's often amazing (sometimes sad) what stories the inhabitants can tell you. Last October for instance I met this old Jewish man at the Western Wall. He asked me from where I was and if I had a Jewish boyfriend. I answered with no and that I was happy the way things were, because I didn't understand men anyways. So he told me the story of Moses ( I don't think it was Moses from the bible) who was very unhappy, because he had to live in Boston far away from his homeland France. God felt very sorry for him, so he started talking to Moses and decided to do him a favor. God said: "Moses, listen, I don't want you to be unhappy anymore, so tell me what can I do for you?". Thereupon Moses answered: "Dear Lord, it is very kind of you, that you want to help me. And since I know that you are almighty, it probably won't be a problem for you to built me a bridge over the Atlantic Ocean between Boston and France." The Lord thought about it and said: "Moses, are you aware of what you are asking me? That's just too big, I can't do that for you. Don't you have a more reasonable wish?" Moses thought about it and responded: "O.K., here is a smaller wish. You probably know my wife Ruth. Sometimes we are fighting, and I don't even understand why. Could you please make me understand her?" God thought about it again and answered: "Listen Moses, I'm going to built you your bridge!".
I laughed and the old Jew said: "You see, you might not understand men, but we don't understand you either!". I thought he was right, thanked him for his funny story.




Hmmmm! I just love the warm and fantastic smelling Arabic pastries in the morning.


Do you see the chocolate-Santa Clause (I shot the picture in October!)


There is nothing better than fresh juice!

And if you feel like buying some religious goods, they are everywhere :-)