Bethlehem (West Bank)

Israel Photo Gallery – Bethlehem

I was excited to go to the West Bank, having heard so much about it, and cross the protection/apartheid wall, and visit the other side. I boarded a bus going to Bethlemen but it dropped me off quite far from where I wanted to go – the Church of Nativity. It meant walking through the suburbian neighbourhoods and markets to get to the downtown area, in what I thought was a totally unexpected walking tour.

Visiting the birthplace of Jesus a couple of days before his commonly celebrated birthday was special. In retrospect I’m kinda sad I didn’t target Christmas day, that day attracts huge crowds and revellers I’m told.

My subsequent attempt to visit the Gaza strip didn’t work out because of rocket attacks from the terrorists there, and the possibility of escalation and/or intervention by the Israeli military.