Westerners who have visited Jerusalem Old Town; did you get harrassed by kids and stall owners trying to get?

Question

you to buy their stuff

I got harrassed nonstop by kids trying to sell me postcards, and by the owners of the stalls lining the streets, trying to get me to buy their souvenirs, After the first day I could take it no longer and had to spend the remainder of the trip in the hotel.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Sounds just like Egypt, I love it! You should just go with it and enjoy the experience, it's another culture. If you like it the 'Western' way, maybe you should just stick to sight seeing in the States.

Answer 2

i got verbally attacked by some orthodox jew who thought i was taking his photograph. I wasnt. The mouthful that guy came out with shocked our guide who apologised with red face to the group. Even he was shocked as he understood the language, i didnt, just as well. lol

Answer 3

They do this to many tourists and Europeans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0fM58jBY…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrzxiQFgy…
It's because everyone supports the Palestinians and no one wants the jews to keep a country longer in the region.
Not this way.
We will find them another way very soon.

bye bye

Answer 4

You gotta have thick skin in order to deal with Arabs or Israelis.

Answer 5

In America it's rude to scream at somebody. In Israel or any middle eastern country its fine. No one is offended.

Answer 6

Oh my God, that's Lebanon number two right there.

Answer 7

i admit, Us israeli's are weird

Answer 8

No
But it depends on what part of the old city you visited

Answer 9

I go there all the time. Like all the time. Never got harassed by them. it's the way us Israeli's sell things. Go to a Shuk (market?) and you'll really get the taste of it. :)

Answer 10

In the Arab quarter, that's the middle eastern traditional way to do business. Westerners get confused, but some folks enjoy the thrill of a negotiation.

Why hole up in the hotel -- just go to the rest of the city. West Jerusalem has tons of museums & shops & scenery. There's a nice 2 hour open top city tour bus. None of it requiring negotiation.

Even in Old Town, hire a guide & hang out with history for a day. Just avoid the shopping quarters & go up the other set of steps.

(I had less trouble with Israeli's shops, but still occasional bartering or firmness needed. They'll act offended -- but they aren't.)

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Lady Lulu
I wonder why someone TDed? It was a perfectly sensible answer.

Answer 11

I visited Jerusalem about 8 years ago and absolutely hated it. It was during the Intifada and I felt like I must be the only tourist there. The place had bad vibes.
In the Old City some guy offerered to be my guide. He was quite pushy and, not knowing better, gave in. Got severely ripped off there.
In the Muslim Quarter the shopkeepers were all coming out asking me to come into their shop. Not too bad until I turned one down and grabbed hold of me and started chanting something about Palestine. Freaked me the hell out and some other shopkeeper had to wrestle with the guy to get him off me. I ran back to the Jewish Quarter and some people there helped me out. After that I was on the next train back to Tel Aviv.
Love Israel, hate Jerusalem.