Bethlehem

I had decided just to take an over night bag to Bethlehem, but seems as if even my over night bag weights nearly 8-10 kgs, and I felt every one of those grams as I walked to the convent I was staying tonight. At one time walking up hill in Bethlehem I thought to my self just offer it to Jesus, Hee had to carry a cross so stop complaining Sonali and just get on with it.

Got my self sorted and was at the reception before 8.30am to meet with the Scottish family but 10 minutes later they were not there, so I thought they might have changed their minds, Mary the lady at the reception was very helpful, she tyold me what bus to take, how to get to the convenet as she her self had stayed in this convent when she was in Bethleham, apparently it was a very nice place, and the food was great to boot she said. So I decide to take off to the bus stand on my own.
Yesterday I entered the Via Dolarosa through the Damscus gate, ( Point to note my Daughter and my Hisband both thought I Was very mean not paying both these yesterday. Honestly the father and the daughter always gang up aganist me, Troy where are you boy????. I need yo in my corner.

Today I had to take the bus at the Damascus gate, so you gussed it, it's uphill. Jerusalem and Bethlehem is like Wellington on Steroids. I am going to be fit, Poorer, and at least more appreciative and learned about my faith and of Jesus, and hopefully the halo on my head will be sparkling a lot more. Haha

Oncw the bus came and I was seated the scottish mother and son came, she was so apologatic. But I said that was all good, they had got lIIate. The son made sure I had my passport with me ( cute) because we were crossing the boarder to Palestine. No issues the bus went round the round about, up the hill, down a hill, then up another hill etc etc, you get the gist.

Once in Bethlehem I was supposed to go straight, then cross the road at the traffic lights and do up the hill, then go through a small market, and by the CD shop was the staires to go doen to the convent. The Scottish mum whoose name was Anne and the son was Aiden said they would come with me, I said please dont as they were going back to Jerusalem today. But the young lad put my convent down and found a different route, and said they would come with me and keep me company. Wasn't that nice. ( Colin what goes round comes around remember that the next time you give me a hard time for going out of my way to help someone. :))

It was very very hard with a bag that seemed to weigh in proption to the steepness of the hill. One time I thought my heart would just pop out to take a breath from outside my body, because I was hufiing and puffing so much. Any how the young lad says its not far, its all down hill from now on and then later we start climbing another hill, I said Aiden come on now you said it was all down hill, His mother was panting and she didnt even have to carry a bag. finaly we got to th e convent and I put the bag down till the gate was opened. Anne then picked up the bag and said oh my gosh, we should have been sharing the carrying of this bag. It is very heavy, Yep it is.

Any how they left me then and went down to the church of the nativity, luckily this way too they could get there so it was not a wasted walk for them.

The Bridgetine Nun was from India, Kerala province so once again someone who had a connection, in my itinerary I was supposed to see the shepheards field, the milk grotto and go to the place of the visitation. ( El Karem). I think I got that wrong as El karem is actualy in Jerusalem, not Palestine. I had been told by the nuns in my correspondence with them once I was here they could help with a taxi. when I asked the nun so, she said she would call someone to find out the availability. Till then I had a quick cat wash as I was sweating like a pig. THe nun said it was going to cost me US$100.00, I said that is a lot, can I try and get it cheaper if I could do whats on my itinerary for tomorrow as well. She was not sure but would try. Then I got a call to say te vehicle was ready. The nun from Kerala so came down to the manger square and we met with the taxi organiser, I said well can you do a good price, and his answer was no tomorrow it was going to cost US$150.00. I said ok then forget about tomorrow, can I just got today to the shepheards filed and I will do El Karem when I am in Jerusalem. But apprently te Palestine cars could not go to Jerusalem, and that car was already on its way and he could not stop it. My fault I should have looked into where El Karer was properly.

So in I got into this very good Kia car and off we went to see shepherds field, while on the route the owner ( Ronnie who had said $150.00 to me called to say he was doing a good price etc. over the phone with the driver Samir of car) I just kept quite. They do try it on so much. For instance when we were walking to the convent a taxi driver who was going in the other direction yelled to us saying we are going the wrong way. He then stopped his car came running across and says Bethlehem is this way, your going towards Hebron. We told him thats fine we have google maps, which actually does work in Palestine. Then he fished out a map, and shows where we are and how we should begoing this way blah bla blah. We told him no thank you then he starts qutoing prices it was just insane.

So once Ronnie gets the phone Samir sayswhere do I want to go, and then he starts naming places that were ot in my list but places I would like to go to :) cheeky me I said yes yes I want to go there and there plus all the places in my list. Then he says what did Ronni quote you I told him, then he says how much are you willing to pay and I was silent. so he goes on and I say us $100.00, he says ok I will do it for 130.00 I said no thank you, I do want to help the Palestine people but I hae a budget and its 100.00, he then says ok 110.00 so caved in. But I think this time its worth it. Because its going to be a whole days travelling. He said what time to pick me up and I said 9.30 am and that apparently was not enough time, so we are leaving at 8.30am. Samir was good he took me to the Shepherads field, then made sure I got photos. Then the Israile taxi driver came and picked me up and we were off to El Karim.

El Karem is actually very close to Jerusalem, so I was annoyed with my self. but it was interesting talking to Sophia, we got to the church of te visitation, she was going to find a park and she would join me, So I start to walk, what must have been at least 500 steps. Honestly there was no end to me getting away from hills. a group of 3 were walking behind me, and apparently the place was closed, but they were hoping it was wrong, but no we walked all the way up there to find the place closed. we had a bit of a chat, and they went off, I thought well I will just sit by the gate on a step and say my prayers and go back to the car. There was also the church of John the Baptist and Marys spring to see the people I had chated to informed me. After I finished my contemplation I sttarted walking down, and Sophia was coming up. When I told her how the church was shut till 2.30pm she suggested I stay and look around she had to go some where then she would come and pick me up. Thought I will go and see John the Baptist Church, that too was shut, coming back the American lady came out of a cafe and says to me come and join us, this cafe has good reviews. We ended up having lunch together. This was going to be the first day I think since I left NZ where I would be having 3 meals in a day.

After lunch I went and saw the church of St John, then dragged my self up to the church of the visitation, then to Marys Springs. While at the visitation church a group I think from a Sounth American Country came through. and one of the franciscan priest who are looking after the place asked this group to sing, it was lovely to hear that, I have recorded it and put it as a vedio in this journal.

Had some time till Sophia came ot pick me up, so just sat and eatched the world go bye, and took photos of the grapes in the gazebo that I was sitted at, there were too many people around so I could not jump on a bench and try to taste some. Sophia bought some hot hot pita bread to take Home she shared one with me too.

At dinner it was just me and another gent, the seating had been set for us on two adjoining tables, we got talking as in just where, when , what kind of chatting and then when the first course was bought out he said to the nun, I am going to change my seat and he sat with me. I asked him is he a catholic, and he replied I am priest, so he said grace, and we chatted and ate. He was from Malta, and was a wealth of information. If the taxi driver allows it he is going to join me on my travels as I asked if he would like to join, and so I might have company other than Samir. His name is Father John, and he said he would go half on the cost, but I said no to that, he is a priest and I know how much they earn, God will be ashamed of me I said to him if I did that.

One of the photos is for you Shan, guess which one.

I am proud of my self , just when I was talking to Colin I realised my Samsung watch had died and I had not bought the charger for it, but I remembered that I could charge my galaxy buds by leaving it on the phone. so looked up on good old google and now charging my watch the same way. you live and learn.

Pause for thought

I am at the church of the visitation of mary. Once again it was a big climb.

I can well imagine MM coming to visit her cousine on a animals back. What a distance for her to come while she herself was pregnant.

The act of giving of oneself is a lesson in do unto other as you would want others to do to you. To spend the time with her cousine compare notes on the coming motherhood, the strange circumstances surrounding the confinement would all have been a discussion points.

We know that Zachariah who was Elizabeths husband was a high priest. So that family might have been richer than Joachim and Anne who were Mary's parents. But the distances between Nazareth and El Carem is quite a distance. Travelling on a donkey or on foot would not have been an easy journey. The heat, Bandits, and who knows what else thectravellers faced. Do we today understand these hardships.

Next time I want to winge when my earthly comforts are not to my expectations let me remember the statements above.

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