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| A somewhat busy market street in Bethlehem. |
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Boarding bus 21 to Bethlehem at Damascus Gate bus station.
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Yesterday's farce set me in good stead for the trip to Bethlehem. No trouble finding the bus but suddenly discovered my Shekels weren't in my pocket. Fifteen minutes walk back to the hostel and still couldn't find the small purse. Changed some more money and back to the bus station. Getting on the bus, put my hand in a side pocket and pulled out the purse which must have been nestling quietly behind my mobile phone all the while. You can only imagine what I called myself under my breath, but relieved.....
The bus costs 7.5 Shekels one way. About £1.50
Getting off the bus in Bethlehem was made almost impossible by a small army of sadly hopeful taxi drivers, trying to entice tourists into their taxi for a tour. One offered me ride up to Manger Square for 10 Shekels, which I accepted happily, knowing that all the way up I would be subjected to all the hard sell techniques known to man. I felt no pity as I handed him the agreed price in the square. After that, Manger Square was to be avoided as just about every driver was there trying to catch a prey.
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| Queue for the crypt |
The Church of the Nativity is on one side of the square and its where all the devotees head for. Its attraction is immense, the queue for the crypt was equally huge. But the inside church itself is not particularly eye catching, rather simple and somewhat dilapidated except for the alter and the masses of baubles strung out in front of the main altar.
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| baubles and chandelier with a shaft of sunlight |
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| under the chandelier |
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The church is cleaned by clerics of various denominations according to strict rules making each group responsible for particular parts of the floor. It is so similar to the way that Israel is carved up between Palestine and Israel. A while ago, a fight broke out between the floor cleaning clerics when someone encroached on someone elses territory. See the video - its so absurd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn90BNz729k |
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| In Manger Square, the sign says 'Do not sit on the steps' Pleasant guys and most Palestinians here speak English. |
A COUPLE OF GOOD NIGHT PICTURES
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| closing time at the market |
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| at the flood lit wall |
