Ramparts

The sage of the Old City sipping an ice coffee

Just last Sunday Jill, Stephen and I went on a Ramparts walk from Jaffa Gate to Lion Gate. I have taken a considerable amount of time to explore the Old City since I have been here and am as comfortable with the meandoring and deadending streets that make up this maze of a city. The Ramparts walk, though, offered a very different perspective of the holiest city in the world. The walk is on top of the about half wall that encircles the Old City so I was able to see many things that I would have never known existed. From this vantage point, and guidance of Stephen, I was able to more completely piece together the Old City. The Old City, in its millenia of existance has been witness to many creations, destructions, restructurings, shifting military and political hands, and the general piling up of its streets. But when I would look out over the many towers, minaretes, domes, and water heaters I felt like the city somehow worked. I know this statement is probably a huge contradiction to the true normalicy of the city but viewing the city from above made it seem somewhat orderly and peaceful.

Sunset over the Old City