Views of the Old City

I went to the Old City today and was lucky enough to arrive at the Kotel area in time to go up to the Temple Mount. The times that tourists are able to go up are very limited. I was there from about 1:30-2:30 pm.

A sparrow at the Kotel

Door of the Al Aqsa Mosque with the Dome of the Rock reflected in it.

A view into Silwan

Dome of the Rock, looking towards the south.
The "Cup", the ablution fountain,
is between the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

Rabbi Yisrael Ariel (with umbrella) walking on the Temple Mount with several other men. He is the head of the Temple Institute, which argues that the Temple Mount should be in the hands of Jews, and that the Temple should be rebuilt where the Dome of the Rock is now.

A view of the Dome of the Rock

Entrance to the Al Aqsa Mosque

The Dome of the Rock.

Floor of the Dome of the Chain

Mihrab of the Dome of the Chain

Women at one of the entrances of the Dome of the Rock

Dome next to the Dome of the Rock.

One of the stairways that leads up to the plaza of the Dome of the Rock.

Tiles on the Dome of the Rock.

One of the several olive trees on the Temple Mount.

Opening of a small building opposite the Dome of the Rock.

Marble floor at one of the entrances of the Dome of the Rock.

A minbar (pulpit where the preacher exhorts the worshippers).

Patterned stone on the wall of the Dome of the Rock.

I'm standing halfway up the stairs to the Dome of the Rock - a woman asked me to photograph her, and then she offered to photograph me.

Setting up for the perfect shot.

A venerable olive treee.

A fountain, right outside the Gate of the Chain. Rabbi Ariel and his entourage are to the left.

On the Street of the Chain.

Writing outside the home of someone who went on the hajj to Mecca.

Drawing of the Dome of the Rock as part of the decorations celebrating the hajj to Mecca.