MAYHEM IN BETHLEHEM

A somewhat busy market street in Bethlehem.

Boarding bus 21 to Bethlehem at Damascus Gate bus station.

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. 

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.

baubles and chandelier with a shaft of sunlight 

under the chandelier

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

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

closing time at the market

at the flood lit wall

QUESTIONS OF TIME

Coffee at 4am. Airports are all the same..

Arriving in the wee dark hours is not the best way to enter a new country. To wile away some time before the sky comes out, this free wifi is very welcome.
Checking in on an EL AL flight is like nothing I have experienced before. I was forewarned about this stringent process but it still came as a surprise. Normally we go straight to the check in, show passport and dump the luggage on the conveyor belt, never to be seen again. But in this case 6 small desks are placed in front of a line of check ins, and by each a passport inspector stood. Everyone has to have a 5 minute cosy chat with one of these officials: only then can we proceed to the check in proper.

Some of the questions.
Have you been to Israel before?
Have you been to any middle east countries or North Africa recently?
What's your job?
Have you got any contacts in Israel?
Why have you come to Israel? (the big one)

I believe they grade passengers according to risk level. Suppose potential threats get a further grilling when they have landed in Israel

I think he might have been a bit miffed because my almost brand new passport didn't have a single stamp, or visa to mull over.

Entering  the departure lounge seemed a little more thorough than usual too. Arriving here at Ben Gurion Airport it was much the same, before I could collect my luggage.

Have found the shared minibus rank which shuttle between here and Jerusalem, for 64 shekels almost to the door. I want to ride there in daylight to see what Israel looks like.

On the street where I live at 5.30 am. No souvenir shops open yet, but its a different story now. 

Deprived of sleep, since 6am yesterday, the effects hit me in the afternoon but not before I discovered one of the best views of ancient Jerusalem - from the roof of this hostel. Petra-Hostel/Jerusalem/

Through a maze of streets I can reach The Dome of the Rock, but not till tomorrow. This evening I'll try some night shots with the illuminated Dome. There must be thousands of images like this but there is nothing like capturing it with your own camera. There is a free buffet breakfast here and its eaten with this as the backdrop. I know I'm bloody impressed.

Good Night and Good Luck

ISRAEL SOON

Just set up this blog in readiness for a trip to Israel on October 9th. Hopefully, should be able to report every day, with some photos and comments. 

I've had this trip in the back of my mind for several years, so when I came across a direct return flight to Tel Aviv for a very reasonable price, it had to be the time to go. Seems like bus transport is also well within my budget so hopefully, based in Jerusalem, I should be able to see some other places in this unusual country that doesn't exist in the eyes of some of it's neighbouring states. 

I hope that nothing happens in the mean time to change a reasonably peaceful period that exists there at present. 

Flight El Al from Prague   246 Euro

Egged buses             http://www.egged.co.il/eng/

Hostel in Jerusalem.  http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels

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STREET VIEW of hostel location. With apps such as G/maps who needs to travel anymore?

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