Bethlehem

Here are some of the sights from this Holy City.

Across the street from the Church of the Nativity

Manger Square

"Humble Door" where you must bend down to enter / exit

Beautiful stonework in the ceiling of the walkway entering the church.

This diagram shows where Jesus is believed to have been born,
and the churches that are built around the area.

This the entryway to the descending staircase that ends at the birthplace of Jesus.

These steps lead down to the nativity scene.

This star marks the spot where it is believe Jesus was born.

This is a better picture - online photo

This is a wide view of the area - online photo

This symbolizes where the manger is believed to have been.

The manager is straight head draped behind those curtains.

These is a line of people waiting to kiss the star
where Jesus is believed to have been born.
The lady on the left is bending down to kiss it.
The lady with her back to the camera with the blue backpack is in front of the manager.
This area is quite small and compact.

An altar

This picture doesn't capture the absolute beauty of this wall / altar.

Entryway to the Church of the Nativity - online photo

Closeup of the columns in the entryway where
you can see where they were burn in a fire centuries ago.

Another "Humble Door" 

In the courtyard of the church.

A view inside of the Church of the Nativity

A confessional inside the Church of the Nativity

A door with the Jerusalem Cross

Bethlehem Peace Center

A street around the Church of the Nativity

Narrow alleys

I'm thinking Starbucks might not be happy with this.

The Wailing Wall.
This is the place where people write things on small pieces of paper and
stuff them into the cracks and crevices of the wall.
The lattice barrier on the left separates the men's side from the women's.
Interesting, when you're finished praying,
you back away from the wall, instead of turning around and walking away.
It is a sign of disrespect to turn your back to the wall.

A view from Mount Olive.  The things you see up close are tombs,
as this is a burial ground for Christians, Muslims and Jews.

Another view from Mount Olive.

On the left is our driver.
The other is the young man from America that I'm sharing the day with.

Olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane,
where Jesus is believed to have prayed  in agony before he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot.

Church of All Nations, next to the Garden of Gethsemane.

I'm admiring the magnificent craftsmanship in the Church of Al  Nations.

A tree in the garden propped up with rocks.

The trunk of this tree was incredible.

Next stop - Jerusalem.