The Wailing Wall - A Wall of Sighs 😔

After arriving in Jerusalem by train 🚂, I dropped my bags at the hostel and headed straight to the Western Wall. The compact city made it just a 30-minute walk 🚶‍♂️ from my accommodation to the Old City's sacred site. Though technically part of Palestinian territory under Jordanian custodianship, the area remains firmly under Israeli military control. ⚔️ The atmosphere felt heavy - IDF soldiers with rifles 🗡️ randomly checked IDs on streets with dwindling tourist numbers. As one of few East Asian visitors, my presence felt uncomfortably conspicuous 😅 - a stark contrast to Tel Aviv's easygoing vibe. Entering through Jaffa Gate 🏛️, I navigated the Old City's maze-like alleys, weaving between persistent Palestinian vendors and Jewish merchants . After the winding journey, a security checkpoint ed to the Wall's plaza. Under the blazing Middle Eastern sun , the massive stone wall (50m long × 20m high) stood imposingly - a tangible piece of 2,500 years of history, weathered by time and tears. The gender-segregated prayer sections remained strictly enforced. Despite being Judaism's holiest site , crowds were surprisingly sparse. I found a quiet corner and stayed until sunset 🌇, absorbing centuries of prayers embedded in the ancient stones. #IsraelTravel #JerusalemDiaries #WanderingTheWorld #SacredSites #CulturalExperience