Muslim Quarter of the Old City

On her last day here, Katie and I spent the morning exploring the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, including the Temple Mount. We downloaded an audio tour we found online to ipods. The last year I lived in Israel (2005-2006), non-Muslims were not allowed on the Temple Mount so this was my first time up. We couldn't go into the buildings, but took some pictures from the outside.

Damascus Gate:

Medieval fountain:

Now, up onto the Temple Mount. Dome of the Rock:

A prayer niche next to the Dome of the Rock:

The Al-Aqsa Mosque:

The Golden Gates. There are 8 gates in the contemporary walls of the Old City and this is the gate that faces east and Jewish tradition teaches that it is the gate through which the Messiah will enter Jerusalem. It has been sealed for centuries.

Leaving the Temple Mount, now, some market pictures:

(I particularly liked the hot pink cauliflower)

Spice mountain

A cup of sahlab, a hot, spiced milk drink thickened with orchid starch.

After making the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, Jerusalem Muslims often paint their houses to commemorate the trip. We saw many paintings like this in the Muslim Quarter: