A tour to Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Immigration was fun this morning – and people were getting cross. There was no problem with it, it just wasn’t as fast as some would like. Rather than doing it on board, we walked off the ship and presented at the counter – LIKE YOU DO AT MOST COUNTRIES WHEN TRAVELLING!
Yes, I did get a bit amused by the USA people who were complaining. It was in fact, less trouble then when we travel into the states. BUT we have to do an online application first when we go there – and pay for it. It’s their country and they can process visitors however they like.
But I digress.
We got into our bus and headed off to Bethlehem, in the Palestine Authority. As last time the place so reminds me of NSW.
We drove through the Palestine checkpoint into Bethlehem. – Its complicated!
Palestine usually refers to:
* Palestine (region), a geographical and historical region in the Middle Eas
* State if Palestine, a modern de juresovereign state in the Middle East recognized by 136 UN members and with non-member observer state status in the United Nation
* Palestinian territories, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip that are occupied or otherwise under the control of Israel
* Palestinian Authority, an interim self-government body established in 1994 to govern parts of the territories.
The moment we crossed the point we could see the wall. Massive. And covered in great graffiti. Well more than graffiti – messages to the world. Our guide was Jewish and was ‘quite biased’ with his commentary. Telling us how many Israelis are killed by Palestinians. He forgot the mention that the number of Palestinians killed is ten times that number.
But otherwise it looked the same.
SO.. Bethlehem is a Palestine city in the central West Bank area about 10ks from Jerusalem. It has about 25,000 people and relies primarily of tourism.
The Hebrew bible says that Bethlehem was a fortified city where King David came from. The new testament names it as the birth place of Jesus Christ. We could come and go across the border – but Palestinians, need a work permit to cross. And they can only going to Jerusalem. They cannot travel to anywhere else in the world. They are trapped.
Our tour started with a compulsory visit to a souvenir shop. We were ‘locked in’ for 30 minutes. Funny. I have never seen so much religious paraphernalia in one place. Huge nativity scenes, Crosses, rosary beads. Even the Vatican gift shops had non-religious things, but this place didn’t Lucky we didn’t have to buy anything.
Then off we went to the Church of the Nativity. The church built on the site of ‘the manger’ where Jesus was born. The grotto (the holy site) is the oldest site continuously worshipped in Christianity, and the basilica is the oldest major church in the Holy Land. The church was constructed in the year 333. It was replaced in 565 after being destroyed by a fire.
The Grotto is an underground space the crypt of the Church of the Nativity. It’s under the main alter and is part of a network of caves.
The church was pretty elaborate. The original stunning mosaic floor was protected by a false floor and was beautiful.
It’s the only World Heritage site in Palestine. Major restoration work is happening at the moment. Being paid for by the Palestinians.
One thing I noticed was that ALL the tourist gear for sale was branded as Jerusalem. I didn’t see anything saying Bethlehem.
We then crossed back over the border. And the security from the Israelis was intense. Mirrors under the car, boots of cars searched, papers inspected.
Then off we went to Jerusalem. We didn’t get stuck. If there are any security issues the border gets closed. This can last for hours and we would just have to sit. Thus visiting Bethlehem in the morning.
Past many of the old Olive groves, and into the Zion Gate.
We visited The Room of the Last Supper and saw the tomb of King David.
We whisked past the Armenian Quarter.
and through some of the very old sections where they have dug up sections from 2000 years ago.
Then the Jewish Quarter to the Wailing Wall and then along the last few of the Via Dolorosa, “Way of Sorrow,” – Stations of the Cross.
Again or guides was not to interested in these aspects so we jogged our way along.
We had 15 minutes at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre – the site of the crucifixion.
When it came out in that out guide had 32 years in the Israeli army …… we were not surprised.
It was still great and we saw some great things.
Then up to the hill overlooking Jerusalem.
And a sea day.
Progressive trivia is still going well. We still have a lead by a few points. So we should finish in the top 5. And are having so much fun. Great team.
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