Bethlehem

I have gone to Bethlehem only a few times but each time I always think "WOW so this is it. The Bethlehem I read about in the Bible. It's a real place. Full of homes, stores, taxi drivers, schools, and some dang tasty falafel. Pictured below is the only stop light in town. Population of approx. 30,000.

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The Church of the Nativity

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Entrance of the Church of the Nativity. Yes, that tiny little opening is the official entrance called the "Door of Humility". We had to bend over to walk in.

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But once we walked in there was a foyer then this beautiful room below. This room is the Basilica of the Nativity and is maintained by the Greek Orthodox. The original Roman style floor has since been covered over, but there is a trap door, see below, in the modern floor which opens up to reveal a portion of the original mosaic floor..
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Stairways on either side of the Sanctuary lead down by winding stairs to the Grotto.
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The Altar of the Nativity, in the Grotto,
beneath which is the star marking the spot where Mary gave birth to Jesus.
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Another altar in the Grotto,
which is maintained by the Roman Catholics,
marks the site where Mary laid the newborn Baby in the manger..
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The adjoining Church of St. Catherine, the Roman Catholic church

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And at the end of one day I went to Beit Sahour, a town near Bethlehem, for a lecture. As I was walking I saw the taxi below. I call it the pimp taxi. Check out that Feather!
Keepin it classy in the Holy Land.