the PURIM experience in the Old City of Jerusalem

Israel flag flying high in front of Jaffa Gate Old City

Every alleyway, every building block in the Old City is history. The Old City of Jerusalem is a magical place and it's one of its kind. Here was where Jews bulit the temple, where Jesus was crucified and where Mohammed rose to Heaven. This place is woven together by labyrinth alleyway, colourful souks, a place over decades that is soaked in peace, love, hate, destruction and resurrection. To tell you the truth, I really didn't know much about history, let alone Middle East history. But I read alot of pages on it on the plane, tried very hard to squeezed in some last minute studying. So that at least I will know what I will be looking at and not to get lost in history.

You get people telling you how dangerous a place is, you watched the news everyday, but you won't know until you go and see it yourself. I have to admit I took chances for this one, and I was glad I did. The Old City of Jerusalem was safe and exciting when I visited it in February this year and so was the rest of Jerusalem in Israel. And I happened to visit it during one of the most exciting time of the year, the Jewish holiday namely "Purim". 

I had no idea what Purim was, neither was I realised how vibrant the whole city would be during Purim. During my 3 days stay in Jerusalem, there were music, fireworks, parades, carnivals everywhere day and night. The whole city just came alive, you would think you were in time for Halloween or something because music was just playing non stop in every corner of the street, people were dancing in costumes, doing face and body painting, characters masks were on sale, the whole city just didn't go to sleep.

people dressed up in all sorts of characters to celebrate Purim

night time just get even more exciting

mask and costumes for sale to get yourself play part in Purim

kid in futuristic costumes walking around Mamila Mall

Jewish woman with wings weeping in front of Western Wall

couple dressed up ready for night carnival

vibrant atmosphere around Mamilla Mall

kido with a hilarious donkey costume

lion king and his mate rushing to attend the carnival around the corner near Jaffo street

car was also dressed up for Purim

Jewish in princess costume in front of Western Wall

A family dressed in Spanish costumes waiting at the Light Rail platform

 

some random graffiti on the street

Both children and adults dressed up from morning to night, I walked past bart simpsons, hulk, some Batmans, robots, gladiators, kings, queens, little princess you name it! Just as I was happily soaked in the carnival fairytale atmosphere I did not forget to visit some of the most important significant sites in the Old City which I will cover in my later chapters. For me, my emotions were fighting each other while I was walking around Old City during my days stay there, the whole city had these "walking light-hearted characters" juxtaposed along side these sacred monumental sites. You would see a woman dressed in medieval character wailing in front of the Western Wall, and you would also see a group of people from the wizard of oz gathering near the synagogues. If you want to experience Jerusalem differently, go during Purim and it will change your view on this city and its people for sure. But if you want some good night sleep then make sure you avoid Purim as I'm sure you would ended up ringing room service for many pillows to barricade your ears all night long.