We arrived at Bethlehem just after 11:20 AM. Bethlehem is about a 20 minute journey from Jerusalem.
Just like Jericho, the "House of Bread" (Beth = House" and "Lehem" = Bread) is under Palestinian occupation.
The shepherds were on a hill not far from this area when they first heard the announcement of the Messiah.
Incidentally, Bethlehem is also the place where Samuel anointed David to be king of Israel.
We drove up to the place where Jesus was born in a manger... and no, it's not a small place... it's a *huge* church today...
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| Outside the birthplace of Jesus |
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| Esteb and Barb, about to go into one of the entrances |
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| The inside of the Church of the Nativity |
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| The original floor of the Church of the Nativity |
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| Us, listening to "Mickey" |
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| I think this is where Jesus was supposedly placed... |
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I wish I could say that there was more to Bethlehem, but at the moment, that's all we got to see...
We left for lunch in Bethlehem. People around the area had obviously tried to attract visitors with well-known trademarks. Here's the Stars & Bucks Cafe
From Bethlehem, we stopped at an olive wood factory, and then we drove back to Jerusalem to see
Hezekiah's Tunnel.
The archaeologist who travelled with us said that there's no evidence that Jesus was really born in there. I guess you didn't go in, but there was a line-up for people who wanted to go inside and see the actual place. I didn't go because there were too many people!
ReplyDeleteI laughed so much when I saw this cafe!
Yeah, actually you're right, we never did go in. There was far too many people and it was such a small place! I think that only two people could go in at a time, and there was an entrance for Christians and for Muslims...
Delete:)