Wailing Wall

(Baden's 1999 Mediterranean Jaunt / Overview)

Fuji Superia 400 / Pentax ESPIO 90MC (1999-10-30 ~11:30)
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When I was in chaotic Old Jerusalem, I was wandering through some less busy section when I was accosted by an older Palestinian gentleman who asked if I were a Canadian. I do not have any clue how he knew, but since he had my attention, he then offered to show me some sights.

To get this photo, I was led by the unscrupulous Palestinian 'guide' to an enclave were, admittedly, not many tourists wander. It was more or less a pillbox for the few Israeli soldiers who overlook the Wailing Wall, as there was a massacre there a few years ago. Doesn't that theme sound familiar for this trip, religion and violence?

The wailing wall was just an interior section of the ancient wall around Jerusalem, and it was segregated with the men on the left, the women on the right, and the tourists behind them.

The guide was going to show me around Old Jerusalem for 50 shekels, but it ended up costing me 70 shekels for about 15 minutes, before he had to go for prayers. It did end up as a lesson on on avoiding Arab contact at all cost, which probably helped me a bit when I went to Egypt.

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