4th Post - Wednesday, April 2 - Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Bethlehem, and special Dinner

Another eye-popping day!

We first spent a couple hours in the Old City of Jerusalem in the area of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is the area of Jesus' crucifixion and burial and is a real black mark on Christianity. Several major church groups each 'own' part of the church and they never agree on anything. The conflict is so bad that the key to the church has to be kept by two Muslim families!

From Jerusalem we drove out into the countryside to the Shepherds Fields, where it is believed that the birth of Jesus was announced to the shepherds. We sang Christmas Carols in the Shepherds' Cave.

Then on into Bethlehem for some free time for lunch and shopping, and then a tour of the Church of the Nativity.

Later in the afternoon we had a visit with Zoughbi Zoughbi at WI'AM, the Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center. 

We finished off the day with a delightful meal in Tent Restaurant, a Bedouin-style venue, which we were privileged to share with Palestinian Christian hosts. A wonderful End to a full day!

The Jaffa Gate into the Old City of Jerusalem

Herod's Palace

The Bread Vendor

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Mural inside the church

In the cellar of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The presumed spot of the actual crucifixion

A colorful group from Nigeria

Our group on the steps outside the Holy Sepulchre Church

Singing Christmas Carols in the Shepherds' Cave in the Shepherds' Fields

The Shepherds Monument

The streets of Bethlehem

Helen enjoys a Shewarma for lunch at Al-Sufara Restaurant in Bethlehem

Making Falafel at Al-Sufara

Get your fresh, hot Felafel here!

Hatem shaves off the meat for the Shewarmas. Mmmmmm good!

Inside the Church of the Nativity

The presumed spot of the birth of Jesus

Armenian Priests sing out the mass

Two Palestinian Montanans (Rob and Mitch)

Our guide in the Church of the Nativity

Not quite Starbucks, but let the real company try to sue them!

Listening to Zoughbi Zoughbi talk about peace and reconciliation

Bethlehem Refugee Camp. Note the plumes of smoke. While we were there soldiers from the guard tower retaliated on some kids throwing rocks, by firing tear gas into the town.

Theresa and Raid, our Palestinian Christian dinner companions

After dinner we were entertained by Palestinian Folk Dancers, who invited our group to join in!

Rob has the rhythm down!