By Stav Shapir
One of the most vital and colorful places in Jerusalem is the Mahane Yehuda market, in the center of town. Here, you can stock up on local fruit and vegetables, gorge on candy to your sweet tooth's content, and devour a fresh plate of hummus to keep you satisfied for hours.
Not only will your taste buds be stimulated in this vivacious market place: the colorful vendors will almost certainly give you a chance to get in touch with the "stereotypical" Israeli – friendly, loud and always willing to haggle. The market is open from dawn to dusk, peaking in adrenaline on Friday afternoons ahead of the Sabbath, when thousands rush to the stalls to stock up on goodies for the weekend.
After your hunger has been satiated and your thirst has been quenched, you should be prepared to brave the Old City for a little taste of Jerusalem's loaded history and religious significance.
Walking down the Via Dolorosa will give you a step-by step-guide to the Christian history in the city of white stone. Later, a stroll through the Armenian Quarter to the Western Wall will offer you the chance to fight for the right to find a crack in Judaism’s holiest site in which you can offer up your prayers.
If you have had enough of the hustle and bustle of the city, take a visit to the Israel Museum and check out the unique and grand collection of both local and international art. This museum has on exhibit works ranging from the impressionists to the modernists and contemporary pieces, as well as a plethora of historical artifacts dating back more than 4,000 years.
When you are finished at the museum, cut across the green parks to check out Israel's Knesset building, whether you want to enjoy the view, or try to get a glimpse of the prime minister making his rounds.
After soaking in so much culture, you might want to grab a good cup of tea or coffee, or a little something sweet. Babet Café, which specializes in Belgian waffles, could be the perfect place for just that. Set behind Zion Square in the center of town, the little café is pilgrimage site for chocolate lovers, open between 1 P.M. and 2:30 A.M. every day and from 10:00 A.M. on Fridays until the beginning of Shabbat.
So, with your sugar levels high, making you feel young and energetic once more, hop across the road to the Nachlaot neighborhood, a bohemian enclave where students are in the majority. An early evening stroll through those magical alleyways is the perfect way to end Jerusalem Day.
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