Every day, tour buses come to Bethlehem, drop off a load of passengers at the Church of the Nativity, and then load them back up and leave Bethlehem and the West Bank. For many, all they see of Bethlehem is the church (a very famous church, granted). After living a few miles down the roadContinue reading “Bethlehem Beyond the Church”
Tag Archives: West Bank
Terraces, Olives Trees, and Roman Baths in Battir
There’s a quiet, terraced, Arab village outside of Bethlehem called Battir where water from a cold spring flows through an ancient water system to hydrate abundant olive trees and vegetables that have grown here for thousands of years. Battir is off-limits to me for personal travel, as are many towns in the West Bank andContinue reading “Terraces, Olives Trees, and Roman Baths in Battir”
The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem
Bethlehem is just a few miles down the road from us. There’s not a ton to see there after you tour the church where Mary is said to have delivered Jesus and after you stock up on all the nativity scenes you’d care to display in your home. But during this past weekend’s visit toContinue reading “The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem”