Just got into Jerusalem yesterday. Crossing the border was pretty intense. First, I took a service taxi (shared taxi) from a bus station in Amman to the border for 5 JD and 45 minutes. At the Jordanian side of the border, I had to pay a 5 JD exit tax and then 5 JD for the bus to cross the border.
Here comes the actual border crossing. The border crossing is only a couple kilometers long, but it took just under an hour to get to the Israeli entry checkpoint. I had to show my passport as I got on the bus in Jordan, part way through the border crossing to Jordanian guards, part way through the border crossing to Israeli guards, and twice at the Israeli entry checkpoint.
Just entering Israel's entry checkpoint was a huge contrast to my experience in Egypt and Jordan. It's uncommon to see women in the visible workforce in Egypt, but women made up the majority of the employees at the entrance to the Israeli border. All the guards checking passports and ushering people through the lines were women. Women were even holding automatic weapons. This is a odd sight just from an American perspective to see a person with makeup and long painted finger nails to carry a gun and wear army boots, but it was especially bizarre coming from a culture that often times just keeps women locked up indoors. But, the status of women is a long topic that I'd like to address in fuller detail at a later time because in my opinion it is the biggest humanitarian problem in Egypt.
Anyways, after I enter Israel, I still need a ride to Jerusalem. So, I took another service taxi for 8 JD. I give all these prices in case anyone else tries to do this border crossing because as in Egypt, Jordan, and even Israel, you can't just swipe your credit card and pay for stuff. You pay for absolutely everything in cash.
The taxi dropped me off in East Jerusalem about 2 minutes walking distance from Damascus Gate (one of the entrance's into the Old City). But, I only know this after getting acquainted to the Jerusalem. In reality, I got out of the taxi without a clue of where I was (geographically speaking).
So, I started talking to a Palestinian guy and I followed him into what looked like a huge castle. I asked him what it was, but I thought he told me that it was the way to the Old City, not the Old City itself. Eventually, the Palestinian man had to turn into his apartment, so he told me to just keep going straight. I came up to a security checkpoint, so I asked the guard what is beyond the security checkpoint and I thought he said a mall. As I was passing through the checkpoint, I realized I might have misheard him. Well, it turned out I just stumbled upon the Western (Wailing) Wall. Half an hour later, I stumbled upon the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (which was actually helpful because I could orient myself on the Old City map in my Lonely Planet Middle East guidebook and find a hostel.)
