Spending Time at the Shuk

I wanted to spend my day off in the city. However, with Hamas calling for a "day of mobilization" and Fatah calling for a "day of rage" today* (on top of the fact it's a Friday, which is already usually tense in the Arab quarter downtown) I figured the Old City was probably not the best place to go. So after waking up this morning I decided to head downtown to the Mahane Yehuda market (aka "the Shuk") for a slightly safer location to spend my free time.

After scoping out the market for a good place to hang out, I found a espresso bar on a corner in the busy market with seats looking out onto the booths and people. With strong coffee in my hand and smooth jazz playing in the background, I sat and people watched for a good portion of my morning. 

Literally sitting at a corner in the market enjoying my morning coffee.

And the people watching really was fantastic. Sitting at the coffee bar gave me the perfect spot to become a part of the Shuk experience. I watched locals and tourists wander amongst the piles of products and became a temporary part of the madness.

"See this fish? You want this fish." - the dialogue in my head

This guy.

And this guy.

Soldiers with machine guns buying bread.

Another fish vendor.

I may not speak Hebrew but I was running a constant dialogue of body language, gestures, and facial expressions with each vendor I passed. I was sitting across from the fish vendor pictured above this paragraph as I sat at the coffee bar. Between scooping more ice on top of his displays of fish we exchanged a variety of looks while I sipped coffee across from his stall. I walked past him once I was finished and his otherwise serious face lit up with humor and he pretended to throw the huge scoop of ice at me instead of his fish. We both laughed and I set off to browse the market in the midst of my caffeine high.

Challah for tonight's Shabbat.

I loved the color and texture of these sweets piling out of the store front of a bakery stall.

When I was done at the Shuk I decided it was too nice of a day to just hop on the train back toward campus. So, assuming it was impossible to get lost as long as I walked along the train tracks, I wandered downtown. 

After a passing a few train stops I found myself at a plaza downtown. There a guy around my age sat on a stone barrier playing guitar as everyone meandered about their day. Surprised by his actual musicality and impressive voice I paused a few benches down and sat for awhile enjoying his music. As I sat continuing to just take in the day the weather decided to switch over to a torrential downpour. Continuing I still didn't move he much figured out I was sitting there listening to him so I just gave in and moved next to him. So there I sat in Jaffa square, in the middle of the pouring rain holding an umbrella over a street musician and dueting to pop hits with this stranger in downtown Jerusalem.

Eventually we both ended up soaked through and he gave up on playing guitar. In apprication of my umbrella he joined me in my walk up until the next train station and chatted about his experience in Jerusalem. As he turned back two girls nearby me looked over and asked if he was bothering me. I answered no and before I knew it I was walking with them into exactly where I was avoiding in the first place, the Old City. There I sat making new friends and enjoying fellowship over lunch. 

Eventually I had to wander back into the rain and made my way one train stop further before I finally got on the train and finished my trip back to my apartment.