Day 9 Part 4 Omar's Shop

Omar's shop is near the top of the Christian Quarter markets.  He has windows in the front of his shop and his wares do not spill out into the street. I am interested in some coins of antiquity he has displayed in his front window.  He comes near me and asks if I want to take a closer look at them.  Since I am waiting for Indiana Jolie, I engage him in conversation.  Omar is very friendly and speaks very good English.  He dismisses my interest in the coins with a wave of his hand.  I have far more interesting things to show you if you want to come in my store!  About that time Indiana Jolie shows up.  I figure since we only have 30 minutes left we will politely decline his offer and head to Jaffa Gate and rejoin our group.

Oh. no.  I introduce Omar to Indiana Jolie and she is delighted to take his invitation to check out his store.  I am still a bit rattled by our getting lost adventure and can't believe we are walking into Omar's store.  We have so little time....

Indiana Jolie and Omar talk like old friends.  He tells her that in 30 days, his family will have lived in this very same "house" for 365 years, nine continuous generations! It apparently has four stories.  His shop occupies the ground floor and his family lives in the upper 3 floors.  He motions us to a spot near the wall.  We look down into a well.  Omar tells us it is the oldest well in this part of Jerusalem.  We do see water at the bottom about 30 feet down.  There is a light bulb about half way down that Omar switches on so we can see.  He has covered the opening with plexiglass so no one falls in.  

Omar has a very interesting store.  He tells us it is the oldest store in the Christian Quarter.  I believe him.  Every inch is covered with things.  You could not amass a collection like this overnight.  It might take 9 generations to put something like this shop together!  The ceilings are covered with tapestries that drape to every corner.  Things for sale cover most every square inch of the walls and tapestries.  Some things look ancient, some are things he has made.  He is mainly a jewelry maker.  He tells us he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago.  His son has also just graduated from the same.  That is why he speaks English like a native.  We feel much more at ease for some reason. 

My wife is interested in a necklace, perhaps one with a widow's mite?  Oh, you must come back here, Omar beckons.  We leave the front room of the shop to a second room further back that also is filled with things for sale.  He shows us a selection of jewelry made of coins of antiquity.  The air is thicker back here, and much warmer.  I am a little nervous as our time is quickly running out.

Omar's necklaces are very nice and intriguing.  He gives us a little history lesson on the coins and how he has made the necklace with quality materials.  Which one to buy?  Indiana Jolie is not one to make snap decisions.  She must ponder.  She must deliberate.  She must think adequately before a decision is ever made.  The only problem?  We are out of time.  To get from here to Jaffa Gate will take us 10 minutes of fast walking and it is time to leave.  

Omar senses the hesitation.  "Perhaps you might like to see something very special?" He asks.  He motions us further back into the store to a third room that is maybe a little smaller but this one glows with jewelry in every square inch.  Omar pulls out a drawer with very pretty necklaces that feature small pieces of Roman era made glass that has been recovered in archaeological digs.  Over time it turns opaque with minerals from the soil into blues, purples and silvery hues. It is very pretty and intriguing.  However it begins a whole new round of deliberation and pondering.  We are now officially late to get back to the bus.

I don't know if it just me or the tension I am feeling from getting lost and now three rooms deep in this nice man's shop off the very busy market, but it is getting very hot and I am sweating profusely.  I don't think this back room gets a lot of fresh air through those thick, stone, windowless walls.  

I hate to insist that we need to go but the last thing I want to do is get left behind in Jerusalem after dark.  I gently suggest to Indiana Jolie that we must move along as our bus is now waiting on us.  She hasn't had enough time to deliberate and we reluctantly tell Omar that we must go and Indiana Jolie has not made a selection.  

We see the disappointment in his eyes as he has been so kind and patient in spending a fair amount of time on us, but Indiana Jolie is not comfortable just making a snap decision.  We would like to promise that we will be back and purchase something from Omar, but the likelihood of that is not good.  Omar shrugs and we begin to move through the rooms back to the market street.  

The light is dimming from the sun beginning to set but there is gloriously wonderful cool air as we climb the final flight of stairs to the large courtyard, we pass Joseph's Pizza and Bakery, through the narrow street and up to Jaffa Gate.  We do pause to purchase two ice cream bars which Indiana Jolie is more comfortable making a snap decision on.  We rejoin our group which is gathered as our buses jockey for position near the sidewalk with cars behind them impatiently blaring their horns.

What an eventful afternoon it has been! It feels wonderful in the cooling air as we descend the many stairs down from Jaffa Gate to the street level.  The crowds are thinning out and it is dusk.  I am ready for dinner and our hotel room.  We feel a bit of regret leaving Omar's but perhaps tomorrow will offer us another opportunity?  Tomorrow.  Our last day in Jerusalem!  What does it hold for us?