The Western Wall

Jews consider the Western Wall of the Temple Mount to be the holiest place they can pray; the closest they can get to the Holy of Holies, the Temple.

It was a short walk from the Temple Mount security exit to the Western Wall plaza.

View of the Western Wall Plaza, with glimpses of one of the minarets and the gilded dome of the Dome of the Rock.
The covered walkway structure on the right is the path that leads to the Temple Mount.

You can expect to see a variety of people at the Western Wall from Orthodox Jews in their distinctive garb to school children in uniform and everything in between. Despite the numbers of people in a small area, they were quiet and respectful.

This is a "straight-on" phot of the wall. The left side is reserved for men, the right for women. There is a barrier that separates
the two. The people at right are waiting for a chance to approach the wall.

Tradition holds that those leaving the wall should do so backwards, so as not to turn their back on it. We observed many people doing that. I didn't. I can barely keep my balance when I look straight ahead. 

This is a detail of the wall, showing notes that have been placed in the crevices.

A part of our little group leaving the Western Wall

Upon leaving the Western Wall Plaza, we ascended a flight of stairs and came face-to-face with a huge golden menorah encased in glass.

The Golden Menorah in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City

We continued our journey through the Jewish Quarter, stopping to enjoy the sights and scents of the shops along the way. 

We even met a friend.

He, too, was far friendlier than my original Israeli cat acquaintance.

We'd seen a lot already, and there was more yet to come--including a yummy lunch in the Armenian Quarter.  

Stay tuned.