Nativity

the church of the nativity

Quickly one guide got off the bus and another one joined us as we were headed over to the West Bank to the church of the Nativity.  For many folks, it was the first time that they encountered the security wall.  I explained to folks about the safety it has provided on one hand, and the ways it has disrupted families, routes and even people’s livelihoods. I explained about the different organizations that relate to the wall, those who support, those who want it torn down and others who want it built less obtrusively.  Once we made it through, we were throngs of people looking at the different sections of the Church of the Nativity.  Unfortunately, the line was so long to see the spot believed to be Jesus’ birthplace that we did not stay.  We did a get a great tour of the other sections, which included one church space entirely filled with scaffolding.  We were all in good spirits (though I was still feeling poorly) as we made our way back to the bus.  We stopped at a gift shop where everyone went in and I slept.

Arriving at the hotel, I did not pass go, collect 200 dollars or eat dinner, I went straight to bed.