The first impression of the Old City can seem like wandering around an “authentic market”, with thousands upon thousands of scarves and cloths, jewelry, and sweets stands. But the more time I spend walking down the streets of the Christian and Muslim quarters, the more I have come to realize that what is being sold there seems to be part of an industry created for tourists. Almost every shop sells items identical to the ones a few doors down.
These parts of the Old City have a contrasting mixture of old stone streets with a feeling of false authenticity. In the Armenian quarter, on the other hand, there are far fewer shops and stands – most of the buildings are residential. When I go into a church there, it doesn’t seem like a manufactured experience as it sometimes does in the other quarters. Though it is one of the smallest areas, the Armenian quarter always seems as though there is more to discover. Its also much less tiring, because there are much fewer vendors trying to get you to look at their shops.
Just as a side note, the prices vendors first say are extremely overpriced – many a time items that start at 250 shekels are reduced to 30 in minutes.
– Izzy