Valley Street

• Valley Street runs down from the Damascus Gate straight through the Muslim Qarter to the Western Wall Plaza. In Arabic the street is called el-Wad and in Hebrew Ha-Gai, which all mean the same. (The Hebrew name is confusing because eMap lists Ha-Gai Street to the west of the Givat Ram Hebrew University campus. I think that street is actually named for Hagai, as it appears on the Carta paper map, the prophet. eMap is weak on street names within the Old City, but Carta has them on paper.)
• In Roman times Valley Street was Cheesemakers' Way, and Olive Merchants to the Crusaders.
• Near the Dung Gate (Ashpah in Hebrew, Mugrabi in Arabic) you can walk on the Roman Street and see a mural of what the street probably looked like when Romans controlled the city as much as anone ever has.
• At ten am AM Staturdays, groups of people chat in several langrages under the palm trees at Kikar Safra, in front of City Hall. Follow as the group coalesces around two guides. One will give a welcome in Hebrew, but you will soon hear English from the other. Although the Hebrew and English tours take different routes, through the year most routes are covered in both languages. This week's English along Valley Street was the best English-language tour I've been on.
• Even by yourself you can ring the bell at the Austrian Hospice and climb to the roof for an excellent comprehensive view.

Copyright 2006 Jane S. Fox