Well, we fly out tonight. L-a-t-e tonight! 11:40 p.m. local time! Yesterday was our final day with Uri, our Travel Guide Extrodanare, and today we spent the day walking through the old City by ourselves. The touring company has transportation to the airport alreday arranged for us. They'll pick us up at 7:40 tonight.

   This s the local YMCA. It was designed by the same American who designed the Empire State Building.

Being a "car guy" I noticed a popular accessory for cars. See the "Toyota" name on the side of the bumper? Those strips are on every corner of the car. As narrow as some streets are and as heavy the traffic, I'm sure these Bumper guards or whatever they are do a great job of warding off small scratches and scrapes. Neat idea. Haven't seen this in America.

Speaking of America...

We walked through an upscale mall on the way to the Old City gates. Shops are on either side. The mall isn't enclosed, as it very rarely rains here. Here are a few names you'll recognize:
     

Even if you don't read Hebrew, you can probably figure out what this sign is saying! I thought this was a pretty neat shop.

Part of the mall was completrely enclosed. To enter, you had to be searched.

We came back here for lunch. But first, we headed into the Old City through the Jaffa Gate. The jaffa gate area was under construction - some soert of repair or refurbishing of the street.

This is the view from the Jaffa Gate.

 You can't really see this windmill in the above picture on the right, but when you zoom in using 12x, it's there! This windmill was built by Moses Montefiore (a Brittish industralist and immigrant) in 1860. It was never used more than infrequently, because there is hardly ever any wind at the site the windmill was errected!

  This is a fun story. The guy on the left was standing at the entrance to the Jaffa Gate, and as we passed he said, "You are Americans!" (They all know. Is it instinct?) We said we were, and he said, "Let me show you my shop." We said we weren't intrested, and he said, "Please. At least let me give you my card. Maybe you come back later." We said alright. So instead of giving us a card, he said, "Come. Right this way."

 Ok.

 "Come just little more."  "This is way... Please."

"This my shop. Welcome. Come. I give you my card."
Syl and I were actually kind of enjoying this. "Come. This way. Please. I give you my card." He led us to a back room in his shop that was adorned as you see below. He said to Syl, "Please. You sit here." and to me, "And you sit here. Please." (Pointing to the chair on the right.)
 Take a close look at my chair:

Syl's chair and mine were identical. It was almost like two thrones for Arab sheiks. Guess what came next.

Yep. one of his brothers started unrolling carpet!

"You like?" "Why, yes, it is very lovely." "I make you good deal. Just 500 dollars." "Ah, no thanks. This is 100% silk. Carpet like this in US would cost you 10 times as much. Maybe 15 times." " No, but thank you for showing... " "Tell you what. Business is bad due to construction and I make you good deal. Two rugs for 500. We ship to your home in four days." "How much is shipping.?" "40 dollars." "No thanks." This 100% silk. 100% hand-made. Takes almost month for man to make. Made to be walked on. Is good deal. Is investment in future." " No, but thank you anyway." "Tell you what I do. "Two rugs. 450 and I pay shipping."

This was kind of fun.

After we left the rug area, another brother showed Syl some jewelry. It was very nice - 18 karat settings, precious stones. The salesman pulled out three pairs of earrings and lined them up on the counter. He said that business was bad, and he would let her have all three for 60 dollars each - 180 dollars. Syl declined. We started to leave. He said something about it was a slow time for tourists as well, and he would let her have all three sets for 60 dollars. So we bought em! As were were getting ready to leave, the third brother pulled out scarves, and started hawking them. 10 dollars each. Syl declined. He said, "Two for 10 dollars." "No thanks." "Very pretty!" "Thank you, but no." "Ok. Four for 10 dollars!" Sold!

One of the brothers said, let me show you some copper... and I said, "No, that's all, thank you." and we moved on. On the way out, the first brother gave us his card:
Mercy!

As we moved on down David street, there are shops after shops after shops! Amazing!

That's all for my updating for right now. There are at least 30 more pictures to show you on this shopping trip, including a visit (no kidding) to "The Heart of Dixie." I'll post more soon.

Do check back often for updates. Come. I give you my card.