There are four quarters in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Jewish, the Armenian, the Christian, and the Muslim Quarter. By default one could think that these four quarters each have their own character, and that it would be clear when passing from one to another. And while this is true, when it comes to the Jewish and the Armenian Quarter, passing from the Christian to the Muslim Quarter isn’t so clear.
There definitely are signs, Christian symbols and icons in the Christian Quarter, as well as the tourist shops catering to Christian tourists, and the lack of the same in the Muslim Quarter, and the latter feeling slightly more busy depending on where one finds oneself. But it’s never clear. There are mosques in the Christian Quarter and churches in the Muslim Quarter. And it is never clear who is Christian and who is Muslim. It is as if they are Palestinian more than anything else. It is as if the two quarters are of the same essence.
New Gate, the gate leading into the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.
A cafe with guests in the entry street leading to New Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Corner of Les Freres Street in the Christian Quarter of the Old City in Jerusalem.
Closed shops on Les Freres Street in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Local shop owners bringing their products
A scooter racing through one of the covered parts of the streets in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Moving nearer to the Muslim Quarter via the Sant Francis Street in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.
A statue of Virgin Mary observing the passers-by on Sant Francis Street in the Christian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The emblem of the Secular Franciscan Order above the gate to the Christian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The street being blocked by morning traffic in the Christian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Slowly walking from the Christian Quarter to the Muslim Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The minaret of Al-Khanqah al-Salahiyya Mosque, a mosque built in the 12th century with a 15 meters high minaret. The mosque was built for Salah al-Din, though not only for him personally.
The shops become more frequent as we get closer to the main roads of the Muslim Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Minaret of Al-Khanqah al-Salahiyya Mosque
A Greek flag is seen in the shopping street in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.
A Palestinian girl is seen asking her mother for a treat in the local shop.
The street is sloping down towards Al-Zytoun El-Shafa street in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Entering the Muslim Quarter from the Christian Quarter, symbolized by a Christian cross and a Muslim half moon.
Our walk has taken us in to the Al-Zytoun El-Shafa street in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem,
A Palestinian woman is investigating the offerings of one of the shops.
A nun is passing by in the streets of the Muslims Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem.
At the end of the Al-Zytoun El-Shafa street, entering Al-Wad Street, which leads from the Damascus Gate to the Haram al-Sharif.
The Damascus Gate appears in the background of the busy Al-Wad Street.
The Damascus Gate is a busy point of commerce in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Though we have left the Old City of Jerusalem, the Damascus Gate still witnesses a lot of activity outside the wall.
The Damascus Gate is an important entry point to the Old City of Jerusalem, not only for the local Muslim Palestinians living there, but also for Christians, Jews, and of course tourists from all over the world.
An old Palestinian man greets a boy selling his products at the entrance to the Damascus Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem.
