Bethlehem

Day 10 (Day 5 of the Gate 1 tour): On an optional Gate 1 trip to Bethlehem. This trip was rescheduled from two days ago when our bus broke down. The trip also didn’t allow us to go on another optional tour––this one to the “New City of Jerusalem,” which would have taken us to the Shrine of the Book among other places. We had a choice of going from one or the other and everyone chose the Bethlehem tour. Bethlehem is in the West Bank in the Palestinian Territories, so we had to have a Palestinian guide for the tour. Photo: Seen coming into Bethlehem. (There was a Gate 1 regular tour to the Old City of Jerusalem this morning. I decided not to go on it but to go another day on my own so I could walk at my own pace and take lots of photos. One man had his ring taken right off his finger on the tour and one woman had her credit card swallowed up in the ATM machine.)

Free Palestine

On the building in the last photo: “Free Palestine,” a reminder that we are in the Palestinian Territories.

Bethlehem

We saw some very nice apartment buildings in Bethlehem in our drive around. This one had a Mercedes dealer in front of it. However, there are Israeli settlements in Bethlehem, so you really don’t know if you are looking at one of these settlements or at Palestinian homes.

Bethlehem

A view of the Bethlehem.

Old VW

Art installation or a warning to take care on the curve? There were a couple of car wrecks on the ground.

Palestinian Guide

Our Palestinian guide for Bethlehem.

Shepherds’ Field

Our first stop was at Shepherds’ Field, where shepherds kept watch over their flocks. Here, according to the Gospel of Luke, an angel announced the birth of Jesus.

Chapel of the Shepherds’ Field

The Chapel of the Shepherds’ Field was built by the Franciscans to mark the place where the angel came.

Shepherds’ Field Cave

Underneath the chapel is a cave where the shepherds kept their sheep. There are many caves in the area and it is not known if this is the cave where the angel came to announce the birth of Jesus.

Souvenir Store

The Memories store seen on our ride from Shepherds’ Field to the Church of the Nativity. We did not stop.

Religious Souvenirs

We also passed this religious souvenir store.

Stars & Bucks Cafe

Everyone’s favorite: Stars & Bucks Cafe.

Al.sufara Restaurant

Sounds like it served Middle Eastern food.

Sunset Restaurant

Chinese food? There are some very good restaurants in Bethlehem for people who are here on their own.

Bethlehem’s Old Town

This photo would make one want to spend time exploring Bethlehem’s Old Town.

Church of the Nativity

The first Church of the Nativity built here at the site of the birth of Jesus was dedicated in 339, commissioned by Constantine the Great. It was destoyed by fire by the Samaritans in the 6th century but was rebuilt by Byzantine Emperor Justinian.

Church of the Nativity

Inside the Church of the Nativity. The church is maintained by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Church of the Nativity

The remains of the beautiful mosaics on the walls of the church.

Church of the Nativity

There are altars here of the Armenian Orthodox Church and the Greek Orthodox Church.

Grotto of the Nativity

From the church, you step down into a cave. Here is the Grotto of the Nativity in the cave, where Jesus was born.

Grotto of the Nativity

Closer–up. A 14–pointed star is over where Jesus was born. Fifteeen silver lamps hang here––six for the Greek Orthodox, four for Catholics, and five for the Armenian Apostles.

Grotto of the Nativity

The 14–pointed star. The 14 points represent “14 generations of Jesus Christ from Abraham to David, then from David to the Babylonian captivity, and after that from the Babylonian captivity to Jesus Christ” or they represent the 14 Stations of the Cross.

The Manger

The Manger, where the Virgin Mary laid Jesus after his birth. It was so crowded here that I could not take a good photo. There was no crowd control as to how many people were allowed into the grotto or how long they could stay in it or was anyone asked to move along so not to block other people’s view and photos.

The Manger

A postcard view of the Manger.

Cloisters

The Cloisters between the Church of the Nativity and the Church of St. Catherine were built by the Crusaders.

Patio

On the patio in front of the Church of St. Catherine is a statue of St. Jerome. A statue of St. Catherine is on the roof of the church.

Church of St. Catherine

The Church of St. Catherine, a Roman Catholic church, is connected to the Church of the Nativity.

Church of St. Catherine

Inside the Church of St. Catherine.

I have put my photos of Shepherds’ Field and the Churches of the Nativity and of St. Catherine on a slideshow. Go to https://www.peggysphotos.com/bethlehem/ [Slide Shows, Middle East, Israel/West Bank/Jordan, “Bethlehem (West Bank)].

Postcard Seller 1

Outside the Church of St. Catherine was an old man selling postcards.

Postcard Seller 2

This man was resting but he was soon also selling postcards.

Postcard Seller 2

I bought postcards from him––$1.00. He thought it was so great that I wanted to take his photo that he helped me walk down a very steep small hill.

Across from Manger Square

An impressive complex of buildings and a church were across from Manger Square, the square in front of the Church of the Nativity.

Across from Manger Square

Close–up of the church.

Sunset over Bethlehem

The sun was setting over Bethlehem.

Sunset over Bethlehem

Close–up of the village on the hill during sunset.

Banksy’s Protest Wall

Banksy’s protest wall is a 30–foot concrete–and–wire barrier with watchtowers that runs alongside and through the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Banksy is an English street artist but no one knows exactly who he is. His street art appears in many world cities. He invited street artists to cover the barrier wall. Not all of what has been painted on the wall has pleased the Palestinians. Banksy also opened the Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem with what he says to be the hotel “with the worst view in the world” as it stands only 16 feet (5 m) from the barrier. The hotel’s guest information sheet tells where to buy paint and hire ladders so to add graffiti on the wall. I asked if we could see the wall and our bus drove slowly past it but I was on the wrong side of the bus and didn’t get good shots of the wall. You could walk down a steep street to the wall if you wanted not to buy souvenirs at a souvenir store we stopped at. Google “Bansky’s protest wall Bethlehem photos” for very much better photos of the wall’s graffiti.

Banksy’s Protest Wall

Banksy’s Protest Wall.

Banksy’s Protest Wall

Banksy’s Protest Wall.

Banksy’s Protest Wall

Banksy’s Protest Wall.

Banksy’s Protest Wall

Banksy’s Protest Wall.

Banksy’s Protest Wall

Banksy’s Protest Wall.

Olive Wood Handicrafts

We ended our tour of Bethlehem at a store selling olive wood handicrafts and other religious items. The making of olive wood handicrafts in Bethlehem dates back to the 4th century AD under Byzantine rule in Bethlehem. Greek Orthodox monks and also Italian and Franciscan artisans also taught residents how to carve olive wood. The tradition has been passed on through generations.

Olive Wood Handicrafts

More olive wood handicrafts.

Olive Wood Handicrafts

Olive wood handicraft.

Olive Wood Handicrafts

A large display.

Olive Wood Handicrafts

Olive Wood handicrafts. After visiting the store, we drove back to Jerusalem. At the checkpoint between the West Bank and Israel, two Israel soldiers came on our bus. They appeared to be looking for someone. It sounded like one of the soldiers got his gun ready to shoot. A very uncomfortable feeling.