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Sarah Tuttle-Singer

A Mermaid in Jerusalem

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Stunning photos of the Old City

Jan 23, 2014, 11:02 PM

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A magnificent aerial view of the Old City. Photo by David Katz

A magnificent aerial view of the Old City. Photo by David Katz

There’s something magical about the Old City of Jerusalem: The light filters through the cracks in the stones in ways that turn back time a millennium and the scent of resin and honeyed apple smoke from the nargilla waft around you in a cloud.

The footsteps of the faithful from three major religions tread the worn stone steps that lead to the heart and soul of the city.

Close your eyes, and you can almost feel the warble of a dozen languages spoken all around wash over you.

In Jerusalem, you can forget what day it is. Or what century. As you walk the paths that bore the weight of those who have come before for thousands of years, you turn a corner and discover a new world.

A magnificent aerial view of the Old City. Photo by David Katz

Children will always find somewhere to play. Photo by Rahel Sharon Jaskow. — Children will always find somewhere to play.
Photo by Rahel Sharon Jaskow.

Women strolling near Al-Aqsa Mosque. Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer — Women strolling near Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer

Looking out. Photo by Avi Mayer. — Looking out.
Photo by Avi Mayer.

A sweeping view of the Kotel. Photo by Avi Mayer — A sweeping view of the Kotel.
Photo by Avi Mayer

An ally near Jaffa Gate where they sell stamps. And tattoos. Photo by Annie Aronheim. — An ally near Jaffa Gate where they sell stamps. And tattoos.
Photo by Annie Aronheim.

Better than Starbucks = #winning.

Fragrant spices in the Old City. Photo by Sally Weber — Fragrant spices in the Old City.
Photo by Sally Weber

Night falls on Jaffa Gate. Photo by Avi Mayer. — Night falls on Jaffa Gate.
Photo by Avi Mayer.

A beautiful shot of the Kotel. Photo by Aaron Kalman. — A beautiful shot of the Kotel.
Photo by Aaron Kalman.

A mesmerizing shot of the Dome of the Rock. Photo by Perry Bindelglass — A mesmerizing shot of the Dome of the Rock.
Photo by Perry Bindelglass

The streets of Jerusalem, lined with snow. Photo by Sammy Raskas — The streets of Jerusalem, lined with snow.
Photo by Sammy Raskas

A gorgeous capture of the Teddy Fountains just outside of the Old City walls. Photo by Elie Leshem. — A gorgeous capture of the Teddy Fountains just outside of the Old City walls.
Photo by Elie Leshem.

The roofs of Jerusalem. Photo by Heddy Abramowitz. — The roofs of Jerusalem.
Photo by Heddy Abramowitz.

A child prays at the Kotel. Photo by Perry Bindelglass — A child prays at the Kotel.
Photo by Perry Bindelglass

Sunlight filters inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Photo by Paul Boyer — Sunlight filters inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Photo by Paul Boyer

A candid moment captured near Jaffa Gate. Photo by Laura Ben-David — A candid moment captured near Jaffa Gate.
Photo by Laura Ben-David

At the pluralistic Kotel. Photo by William Daroff. — At the pluralistic Kotel.
Photo by William Daroff.

A Christian pilgrim prays at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Photo Yifa Yaakov — A Christian pilgrim prays at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Photo Yifa Yaakov

A lantern burns bright just inside Jaffa Gate. Photo by Dr. Leora Leeder. — A lantern burns bright just inside Jaffa Gate.
Photo by Dr. Leora Leeder.

Stunning photos of the Old City — The faithful in prayer.
Photo by Jaeheon, Kim.

Sweeping views of the Old City. Photo by Joe Aminoff — Sweeping views of the Old City.
Photo by Joe Aminoff

Photo by Sally Weber

Shoes on a wire. Photo by Malynnda Littky — Shoes on a wire.
Photo by Malynnda Littky

A man sits in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer — A man sits in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer

You'll find beautiful things in the shuk. Photo by Josiah Ching — You’ll find beautiful things in the shuk.
Photo by Josiah Ching

Night falls on the Old City, and the shops are shuttered. Photo by Judy Lash Balint — Night falls on the Old City, and the shops are shuttered.
Photo by Judy Lash Balint

Kids playing in the Old City. Photo by Jaeheon, Kim. — Kids playing in the Old City.
Photo by Jaeheon, Kim.

Wipeout!!! Photo by Daniel J. Levy — Wipeout!!!
Photo by Daniel J. Levy

Haggling.

A celebration at the Western Wall. Photo by Josiah Ching — A celebration at the Western Wall.
Photo by Josiah Ching

Looking out from the Austrian Hospice.

Robinson's Arch Photo By Hillary Glaser — Robinson’s Arch
Photo By Hillary Glaser

A stunning view of the Old City at night. Photo by Natan Epstein. — A stunning view of the Old City at night.
Photo by Natan Epstein.

Celebrating Christmas in the Armenian Quarter.

Al Aqsa Mosque Photo by Charlie Jasper — Al Aqsa Mosque
Photo by Charlie Jasper

Photo by Yifa Yaakov

Shadow and light in the Old City. Photo by Marc Goldberg. — Shadow and light in the Old City.
Photo by Marc Goldberg.

Siblings are alike all over.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer

Snow falls on the Kotel. Photo by Nechama Perton — Snow falls on the Kotel.
Photo by Nechama Perton

Beautiful view of the Kotel.
Photo by Michelle Appelbaum

An angel plays the harp just inside of Jaffa Gate. Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer — An angel plays the harp just inside of Jaffa Gate.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer

Gorgeous color and light. Photo by Rachael Risby Raz — Gorgeous color and light.
Photo by Rachael Risby Raz

A stunning shot of the Dome of the Rock. Photo by Chris Humphreys. — A stunning shot of the Dome of the Rock.
Photo by Chris Humphreys.

The devoted pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Photo by Irene Rabinowitz — The devoted pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Photo by Irene Rabinowitz

Prayers in the Western Wall. Nechama Perton — Prayers in the Western Wall.
Nechama Perton

Jerusalem of light. Photo by David Katz. — Jerusalem of light.
Photo by David Katz.

Always look up in Jerusalem.

Love near the Kotel. Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer — Love near the Kotel.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer

The bread seller of Jerusalem. Photo by Robert Kern — The bread seller of Jerusalem.
Photo by Robert Kern

An old woman waits for a few spare coins outside of the Lutheran Church. Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer — An old woman waits for a few spare coins outside of the Lutheran Church.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer

An epic game of Sheshbesh. Photo by Robert Kern. — An epic game of Sheshbesh.
Photo by Robert Kern.

A beautiful photo of King David's Tower. Photo by Sharon Altsul, Real Jerusalem Streets. — A beautiful photo of King David’s Tower.
Photo by Sharon Altshul, Real Jerusalem Streets.

Late afternoon in the Old City.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer

An Armenian priest summons the faithful to prayer. Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer — An Armenian priest summons the faithful to prayer.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer

Photo by Zuriel Atia

Dusk in the Muslim Quarter Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer — Dusk in the Muslim Quarter
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer

Looking out over the Muslim Quarter at sunrise... Photo by Rigel Janette — Looking out over the Muslim Quarter at sunrise…
Photo by Rigel Janette

Old and new - Kids play in the Teddy Fountains just outside of the Old City. Photo by Brian John Thomas — Old and new – Kids play in the Teddy Fountains just outside of the Old City.
Photo by Brian John Thomas

The Dove of Peace. Photo by Sarah Lavi — The Dove of Peace.
Photo by Sarah Lavi

If you have a truly spectacular picture of the Old City, send it to me – I’m happy to add it here 🙂 sarah@timesofisrael.com

About the Author

Sarah Tuttle-Singer is the author most recently of Fairy Lights in God’s Backyard: A Jerusalem Love Story (Vayinafash Press) and of Jerusalem Drawn and Quartered. She is the New Media Editor at Times of Israel. She was raised in Venice Beach, California on Yiddish lullabies and Civil Rights anthems, and she now lives in Jerusalem with her 3 kids where she climbs roofs, explores cisterns, opens secret doors, talks to strangers, and writes stories about people. Sarah also speaks before audiences left, right, and center through the Jewish Speakers Bureau, asking them to wrestle with important questions while celebrating their willingness to do so. She loves whisky and tacos and chocolate chip cookies and old maps and foreign coins and discovering new ideas from different perspectives. Sarah is a work in progress.