Outside Atif and Nawal's home. Atif's parents live on the lower floor.
Unfortunately, Atif could not join us because he works on Sunday, and needs to leave home in time to get through the checkpoints between Beit Sahour and Ramallah. Friday is his day off work.
After breakfast we went to church with Luma. The service was packed!
After the service, Luma took us for a walking tour of the old portion of Beit Sahour.
Roof of a Palestinian house with water tanks, due to water rationing and solar panels for hot water.
Next we walked up to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.At the Church of the Nativity, Luma got us in the back way to see the star and manger, bypassing a long line. It was really crowded though, so not much of a spiritual experience.
We walked by the Milk Grotto, but it was closed. According to tradition, while Mary and Joseph were fleeing Herod’s soldiers on their way to Egypt, they stopped in this cave while Mary nursed the baby Jesus. A drop of Mary’s milk fell upon the stone and it turned white.
We met Nawal outside the Church oh the Nativity, and she took us to Solomon's Pools, three ancient reservoirs located in the south-central West Bank, immediately to the south of the Palestinian village of al-Khader, about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southwest of Bethlehem and near the road to Hebron. Unfortunately the pools are fenced off due to safety concerns, but they are impressive structures.
Next we went to the Sheperds Field, identified since ancient times as the place where the shepherds saw the nativity star. In addition to a small church, there were also archeological excavations.
Finally back to Naral's house for a lovely lunch and then back to the hotel.
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