Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jordan

Today is our last day in Jerusalem and I am sad we are leaving.  It is such a great city and we have had a wonderful visit.  Jerusalem has been wonderful.  (Even though I have been ill.)

This morning we went to the West Bank so we could visit Bethlehem.  We had to cross into the Palestinian territory and had to have a guard come on the bus and allow us to proceed.  It was not a big deal but a few years ago, this would not have been possible.  Arabs that live in the West Bank cannot leave without permission and have to get special permission to go into Israel.

The main abbey of the church.  The panels allow
viewing of the original flooring.

We went through Manger Square and into the church.  The church is another one that is managed by more than one religion, here the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic.   We had to wait for a mass to finish, the steps to be cleaned and then we could go in.  Once again, we are in a small, cramped area.  A fourteen silver star is in the floor marking the spot Jesus was born.  A group of Russians was in front of us.  One of the women laid on the floor, kissed the star, stayed there for a minute and then screamed at the top of her voice.  We all stopped, our guide asked if all was well and then she got up and left.  My brother was next to her and immediately said, “I did not touch her!”  Even with all the Russian dramatics, it is a very special place.  I am surprised at how unprotected all the art and icons are.  We are allowed to take pictures with flash, I don’t, and can touch everything, and I admit I sometimes touched the icons.  We lit candles and before you know, a priest came along and was removing the candles we lit.  

Jim lighting candle.  You can see many of the icons behind him.

Priest removing lit candles.  

Priest going to say mass to the left and the Russians crowding the
area of the alter at the spot Jesus was born.

Fourteen pointed star marking the place Jesus was born.

We all got a chance to have our own moment of prayer but it was done in silence.  Other groups sang and prayed aloud which did add to the moment.  The city of Bethlehem is small in comparison to Jerusalem.   There is no shortage of shop owners and they all want to make a deal, drive a hard bargain but still make a fair sale.  Once you get into the way things are done, it seems very normal.

We returned to Jerusalem for lunch and then left for Jordan.  We went through the Jordan River Crossing Gate from Israel to Jordan.  There is an immediate difference in the cleanliness, the structures and general upkeep.  We leave the road and then go to our hotel, which is very opulent.  As in many Arab countries, there are the rich and then everybody else.