Jaffa Gate Tourist Information, Jerusalem

As a female alone I did not like being harrassed as soon as I arrived inside Jaffa Gate by shop and stall holders aswell as an individual who wanted to give me a personal guided tour of the old city. Worse than this was when I paid for a walk on the ramparts - when I got past Damascus Gate I was confronted by a youth weilding a stick in a threatening manner. He hit the stick against the railings to frighten me and the stick broke. This I think startled him and I walked past him. A little further on I heard footsteps behind me and I turned to find the same youth approaching me. I enquired after him and although speaking little English, He managed to ask for some money. I did give him 50 shekels but I felt the need to make it known that the barrier can be breached near the Muslim Quarter and it is not safe to do the Ramparts Walk alone. I did have a guided tour of the Old City later that day (26th June) and it is fascinating. Jerusalem is a very special place and feels safe in the main - there was just this one bad experience which I hope is very rare. Perhaps the people selling the Ramparts Walk tickets should reconsider allowing women to take a walk alone, or they should make sure the barriers cannot be breached.