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| Sunday, November 12, 2006 |
| Amusement Ride or Tourist Trap? |
Soaring stone walls, vivid colors splashed across every available service, vendors promoting their wares and looking for a "target", tourists packed thick looking for a "deal", voices from every nation can be heard.
Welcome to the Old City:
This picture is taken looking into the Christian Quarter. Chelsea and I took advantage of our weekend to do a little shopping. Granted, no matter how good you think you bargain or how reluctant the vendors seem to give into your price, you never get a good deal. Yet the whole experience is fun. It can be treated kind of like a game. The vendors will use whatever they can get you in their shop, do whatever they need to to keep you there, and keep showing you bright, sparkly, gorgeous things until you cannot refuse any longer. All you need to do is keep walking or if interested in something go on in, check it out for a while, try it on - even it's a tapestry:
 ...then walk out laughing. The vendors are generally amiable and fun. Don't take them too seriously or they'll pull your heart strings! The goal is to not be taken for too much of a ride. No way are you getting a good deal, but hey! The experience is worth it. Here is one of me in a store - most vendors just have random little nooks but this guy actually had a building thingy. He served us tea and offered us a free belly dancing lesson if we bought a CD. We went ahead and got the CD but declined the lesson.
 (That tea is amazing!! And yes, I did buy the necklaces in my hand. They have such fun, crazy jewelry.)
On the way out of the Old City, a vendor selling bread starting talking to us. He was funny so we stopped. He was trying to get us to buy this bread. I wasn't really sure exactly what the bread was so he showed me how you tear a piece of bread off then dip into this green powder spice concoction. (A powder substance that you buy in a paper roll...hmmm...) I tried it and it was really good but since I wanted to make sure I'd have enough money for the cab back, I declined. He still bagged one up for us saying we were "too much beautiful." Hey, if it gets me free green powder!
It was a crazy fun day. I am looking forward to going back and doing more "touristy" things. We walked past the Church of the Holy Sepulcher but did not go in. We were focused on shopping. Next time though, bring on the churches, mosques, and wailing walls!
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posted by Unknown @ 9:58 PM   |
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