We took a local bus into Palestine to visit Bethlehem. I learned a little about the region and have a good photo of a map depicting Jewish land (Israeli land) versus Palestinian land since 1946. It helps show the struggles for land over here. The Palestinians are held in by a huge concrete fence. We had to go through a checkpoint but did not experience any trouble.
Machine guns slung over young people’s shoulders have become second nature. It is mandatory to join the Army in Israel and there are many soldiers around. There are so many checkpoints, guards and security people around and no beggars anywhere, that everyone in this country must be employed. The other day I must have seen a hundred police officers protecting the President. There was a long line of police vehicles and a couple of police limos in the mix along with full size vans full of police. A lot of security. I didn’t want to hang around because I didn’t know what was going on and with all of that ammunition around it is better to get out of the area. Well they came down the road I was walking down with their brigade. But all was fine.
Today we were at a bus station and there was a guy dressed in civilian clothes with a backpackers pack on with a machine gun slung over his shoulder, I said to Karen look, there is an Israeli backpacker. Didn’t chance the photo, valued my life more than the shot.
This all sounds a little scary probably, but really it is fine here, they just have lots of young people so therefore a large army and I am in a tourist area so lots of security. Like I said it becomes second nature.
Bethlehem was great. We went to Jesus’ supposed birth place and placed a hand on the star that marks the spot of his birth in the Manger. I pictured a manger, but no it is a Grotto in the basement of a church with lots of hanging candle lanterns. No donkeys or straw. We saw St Catherine Church where midnight mass on Christmas Eve is broadcast from. We hung out in Manger Square people watching and eating falafel. We played around at an Olive Wood, woodshop. They had a big nativity set so we pretended we were angels and praying at the site. At this woodshop the guy was really nice and showed us how they make all the souvenirs gave us some free ones and sent us to the roof for a great view of Bethlehem. He told us because we were by ourselves and not with a tour group we could buy anything if we wanted with a 40% discount, but that there was no pressure. So a couple of Olive Wood rosary’s for mom and dad and we were on our way after he gave us a ton of information about the area. He was a genuine person.
We pass spots marked as Stations of the Cross in Jerusalem regularly but we decided to walk the route in order and follow the way of the cross. I took pictures of each Station so I can do a modern day Stations of the Cross presentation during Lent with my classes. The locations were not too spread out and are down and around the alley ways and in and out of a school, churches, shops and the regular hustle and bustle of the Old City and souks.
In Bethlehem we had a great time walking through the souks (markets) as we were the only tourists as most get bussed in in a tour group and bussed right back out again. It is a predominantly Muslim area so we were glad to have our knees and shoulders covered, but did all right without our hair covered. It was cool to just be part of the regular daily hustle and bustle of the city of Bethlehem.
Click on this link for photos from Bethlehem and Jerusalem Stations of the Cross
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