We started with a view of the Old City from the top of Mount Olives. Our United Tours guide (a gruffly old man) then led us along Via Dolorosa, which is also known as the Way of Sorrows. This was the path Jesus took after he was sentenced to be crucified. There were a total of 14 stops, and our guide explained the significance of each stop as we went along, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We visited the Wailing Wall, which was segregated into man and woman’s section. The man’s section was twice as large as the woman’s section, which had twice as many women. Many had come just to pray at the Wailing Wall. Many wrote their wishes and slotted them into the cracks of the wall, as it was believed the God visited the wall a few times a year to see how mankind was doing.
Via Dolorosa or Way of Sorrows
We did not enter but saw from afar the Dome of the Rock and the El-Aqsa Mosque, which was built on the Wall. The Wall is the holiest place for the Jews, and the third for Muslims, as it was believed the Muhammad ascended to heaven from the spot where El-Aqsa Mosque is built.
Map of Old Jerusalem
Jewish boys playing, or fighting?
We visited the more modern part of Jerusalem in the afternoon, giving the museums a miss as we were not big museum fans. The Israel Museum and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum is worth a visit though for those who are keen on historical artifacts. We went to the colourful Mahane Yehuda, where we succumbed to the seduction of the huge pomegranates and bought one. We walked along Ben Yehuda street (the main shopping area) and visited a few interesting neighbourhoods.
Mahane Yehuda
The nicest YMCA I've ever seen!
King David's Hotel, which also served as the British HQ during WWII
Jerusalem is divided into Old City and New City. Old City is accessed by eight gates, although the Golden Gate was long ago sealed shut by the Ottoman rulers in the 7th century because according to Jewish tradition, the Messiah will enter Jerusalem through this gate (Jesus had also entered the Old City through this gate). The emperor Suleiman decided to prevent the arrival of the Messiah by blocking the gate with bricks, and by building a Muslim cemetery in front of the gate (the Messiahs is a Cohen, so he cannot enter a cemetery...). I entered the Old City through St Stephen's Gate, also known as the Lion's Gate because of the four animals that decorate the gate's facade. The other six gates are Jaffa Gate, New Gate, Damascus Gate, Herod's Gate, Dung Gate and Zion Gate. 
