|
Israel
Jerusalem They don't come any holier than this. Jews, Muslims, Christians: all three hold Jerusalem sacred. Of course, most people come to Jerusalem to immerse themselves in the people and places of its holy history, but try to remember that Jerusalem is also a modern city, full of living, breathing people.
The city is divided into three parts: the walled Old City, where most of the sights are; the predominantly Arab East Jerusalem; and the rapidly expanding new city, known as West Jerusalem. The Old City is also divided, into Armenian, Christian, Jewish and Muslim quarters.
To get an idea of the Old City, it's worth strolling around the city walls. Rising over the city is the Haram-ash Sharif/Temple Mount. Mohammed rose to heaven here and God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son. The magnificent Dome of the Rock mosque dominates the Mount, with the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Islamic Museum a little to its south.
The Western Wall is the most accessible of the four walls, making it a popular place for Jewish worship. To complete the holy sites trilogy, try the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter. It's built over the site where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. Get here via the Via Dolorosa, the route Jesus took as he carried his cross.
Tel Aviv Tel Aviv Less than a century old, Tel Aviv is about finance, business and fun - it's pretty hard to compete with Jerusalem's three millennia of history, so Tel Aviv doesn't even try. Nearly everyone who lives here came from somewhere else, a short walk through the city will uncover this diverse cultural mix.
From the spicy orientalism of the Yemenite Quarter, the seedy vodka cafes of Allenby St and the Miami chic of pastel pink beachfront condos, Tel Aviv isn't big on historical wonders, but if you've been to Jerusalem you've probably had a gutful anyway.
If you just can't get enough, visit the Diaspora Museum, which chronicles Jewish culture in exile, or the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. When you've finished, wander through the markets of the Yemenite Quarter, stop for a cappuccino and then pull up some sand on one of the best beaches in the Middle East.
The Western Wall itself is actually a huge retaining wall for the structures built on the Temple Mount. It has been a focal point for Jewish prayer since 70 C.E., when the Second Temple was destroyed by the Roman army. A wide plaza accommodates worshippers (men and women pray in different areas), as well as public events, such as the swearing in of new army recruits, and the presentation of Israeli schoolchildren with their first prayer books, bar mitzvah celebrations, and wedding photos. Visitors should dress modestly. A local custom is to write prayers and petitions on small slips of paper and press them into the cracks in the wall.
High on the hills of East Talpiot, this promenade offers a fantastic view of the entire Jerusalem landscape including the sparkling Old City and surrounding walls. This spacious park has many walking trails that traverse the area and wonderful shaded grasslands for family picnics. Peer into the surrounding villages of Abu Dis, Silwan, Abu Tor and gaze across at the New City skyline. The park's lights turn off at 11:30pm. Visitors are encouraged to avoid visiting the area alone at night as it is not well lit and far from the center of town.
Famous Jewish artist Marc Chagall designed the 12 stained glass windows of the synagogue at Hadassah Hospital, Ein Kerem. Each window is a rainbow-coloured piece of beauty and the set depicts the 12 tribes of Israel. As this is a place of worship, photography is not permitted – so it is worth sitting still for a while to take in the wonderful detail sink in. The gift shop next door sells postcards and posters for those wanting a more permanent memory. Guided tours are available.
The golden domed structure encasing the Sacred Rock has special significance, in that it is the place where Abraham was about to sacrifice his son and from where the Muslim prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven. It is a unique and beautiful artistic piece of Islamic architecture built by Abd el-Malek in 691. The walls are decorated with verses from the Koran, the ceiling is tiled in red, gold and black shards and the exterior's tiled facade is magical. Converted to a church during the Crusader period, examine the crosses on the interior's columns. Downstairs is the wells of souls, a place where Abraham, David, Solomon, and Jesus were said to have prayed. Entrance fee to the Temple Mount includes the Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Islamic Museum.
Guided tours of the Western Wall tunnel must be booked in advance. What is now far underground was once open to the sky. You will see "Wilson's Arch" - part of the support for a bridge connecting the Temple Mount to the Upper City, along with large halls from different periods, including one that was perhaps the Jerusalem council meeting room or city archive from the Hasmonean period. Water channels, and the largest block of stone used in constructing the wall are also visible. Models and an audio-visual display enable visitors to understand the various sites.
|
Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers
-
Centrum Deck
-
Cruise Places
-
Other
-
Israel
#
Linear Mode
