JERUSALEM

ISRAEL/PALESTINE Asia

One of the planet’s oldest settlements,
and a place of enormous importance to
three of the world’s biggest religions
(Judaism, Christianity and Islam), Jerusalem
has been fought over for thousands of
years. Even now, two countries claim it
as their capital – Israel and the State of
Palestine. It’s confusing, but life goes on
in this vibrant and ever-surprising city.

TIME MACHINE

The Jerusalem Time Elevator is a high-tech ride where
passengers are taken through 3,000 years of history.
The journey stretches from the era of King David to
the Six-Day War in 1967, with lights, film and sound to
bring the experience alive.

TRICK OF THE EYE

While the ancient Western Wall is a site for prayer, other
walls around Jerusalem attract talented painters and artists.
There are colourful and thought-provoking murals all over
the city. Many are stunning trompe-l’œil – images that
‘deceive the eye’ to create a mesmerising optical illusion.

SETTING SAIL

Jerusalem has an unusual Dutch-style landmark, originally
designed to mill flour. The Montefiore Windmill looks
a little out of place on a hill opposite the city’s western
walls, but it’s been standing there since 1857.

BOARD KIDS

Jerusalem has an awesome
skateboarding scene. In 2014, Gan
Hapaamon Park opened a special
area for boarders fitted out with
ledges, stairs, rails and a dry pool.
The skate park is an exciting new
development in a city where security
concerns and old-fashioned attitudes
used to make it difficult to take up
extreme sports.

YAD VASHEM

Next to Jerusalem Forest, on
the Mount of Remembrance, is a
solemn memorial to the victims of
the Holocaust, in which millions
of Jews were killed during World
War Two. The Children’s Memorial
stands amongst the sculptures and
synagogue. It is devoted to the
estimated 1.5 million young people
who lost their lives.

THE SHUK GUT SPECIAL

Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda Market, known as ‘the
Shuk’, is a riot of noise, colour and amazing smells.
Everything imaginable is on sale, including the
city’s speciality meal – me’orav Yerushalmi (the
Jerusalem mixed grill). Not for the faint hearted,
the dish contains chicken hearts, spleens and
livers mixed with lamb and herbs, then cooked on
a flat grill. Many wash it down with etrog andgat
juice made by the resident witch doctor – a groovy
smoothie maker called Uzi-Eli Hezi who claims that
his concoctions can cure anything.