DC_Jessica

This seems to be an awfully Israel forum right now! So I'ma add to it!

Anyone have any solid (as in, not guidebooky, but you've been there and liked it) suggestions for hostels in Jerusalem? I'm 100% down for roughing it, but a lively atmosphere and something particularly memorable (dare I say magical?) is more important than finding a $2/night cardboard box. I'll spring for the whole $10!

Or, barring a great hostel suggestion, anyone have a preference for which quarter of the old city to stay in? It's my first city on the trip, so I want to start it off on a good note.

Thanks!

__________________
"I set out alone, finding no companion to cheer the way with friendly intercourse, and no party of travellers with whom to associate myself. Swayed by an overmastering impulse within me, and a long-cherished desire to visit those glorious sanctuaries, I resolved to quit all my friends and tear myself away from my home."
---Ibn Battuta, CE 1325

Latest travel crushes - Arizona, Morocco, The Baltic States, Tunisia, Portugal, Mexico

BigE

I was going to ask the same question. Have you thought about staying with Franciscans? I found these guest houses:

http://198.62.75.1/www1/ofm/cic/CICguesthouses.htm

__________________
You can't take a shirt from a naked man. - Arab Proverb

"An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger, or a beer."
-Confucius

Somewhere in England (maybe) - Spring (TBA)
Israel - Summer (TBA)

DC_Jessica

Ha, I'm lame. I'm well back from my trip, and I had a really good experience with where I stayed. I made some friends and think I had a ridiculously quirky experience. It's the Petra Hostel, allegedly in the Christian Quarter, but it's right at Jaffa gate (a bunch of buses pick up and drop off there) with easy access to the New City, and a good anchor point for exploring the Old City. Also close to the Nablus Road bus depot that takes you to West Bank.

__________________
"I set out alone, finding no companion to cheer the way with friendly intercourse, and no party of travellers with whom to associate myself. Swayed by an overmastering impulse within me, and a long-cherished desire to visit those glorious sanctuaries, I resolved to quit all my friends and tear myself away from my home."
---Ibn Battuta, CE 1325

Latest travel crushes - Arizona, Morocco, The Baltic States, Tunisia, Portugal, Mexico

Canadian Bacon

Jess... awesome, we need to see pics of your trip! I always wanted to go to Jerusalem... maybe next time =)

Nothing crazy happened i hope

__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."

BigE

Ooooops! Sorry. I would like to know about your trip.

__________________
You can't take a shirt from a naked man. - Arab Proverb

"An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger, or a beer."
-Confucius

Somewhere in England (maybe) - Spring (TBA)
Israel - Summer (TBA)

DC_Jessica

Haha, I'll have to weed through them now that they are ONE YEAR old!

I'd say nothing too crazy happened unless you include sneaking into the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa, in addition to the mosque near the Israeli construction project that nobody talks about. Did I mention that Al-Aqsa is MEN ONLY? They had these glass cases that memorialized what happened with Sharon in 2000 (and consequently the reason non-Muslims should not be where we were). The cases had all sorts of grenades, rocks and other weapons that the Israelis threw INTO Al-Aqsa.

__________________
"I set out alone, finding no companion to cheer the way with friendly intercourse, and no party of travellers with whom to associate myself. Swayed by an overmastering impulse within me, and a long-cherished desire to visit those glorious sanctuaries, I resolved to quit all my friends and tear myself away from my home."
---Ibn Battuta, CE 1325

Latest travel crushes - Arizona, Morocco, The Baltic States, Tunisia, Portugal, Mexico

BigE

That is cool. How did you get in?

I woud love to see pictures too.

__________________
You can't take a shirt from a naked man. - Arab Proverb

"An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger, or a beer."
-Confucius

Somewhere in England (maybe) - Spring (TBA)
Israel - Summer (TBA)