BETHLEHEM
Five miles south, Bethlehem is different from Jerusalem in every aspect. This is my home for the next two days.
In the West Bank, Arab women wear a head covering called hijab, so I stuck out like a sore thumb as I wandered around taking pictures.
In the city center, this man grills kebabs in an outdoor oven.
The streets are steep and unevenly paved. I sense poverty in the crumbling structures and desperation of the shopkeepers.
Manger Square was filled with the usual pilgrims and tourists.
Preparations for a wedding were in full swing and there were white roses everywhere.
When I found my way back to my airbnb, Issa shows me his garden and picked fresh pomegranates for me.
I discover how loofah is grown and meet his “kids”.
With such a short time in Bethlehem, I decided to hire an Arab guide. I chose Salah, who agreed to a political tour.
After a makeshift picnic overlooking the occupation wall, we set out for Aida, a refugee camp.
Rachel’s tomb with its rounded dome, (pictured near the center of the photograph) is adjacent to the busy checkpoint 300.
The lock and key at the entrance to Aida symbolize the Palestinians desire to go home one day.
Impossibly narrow streets and decrepit houses riddled with bullet holes- this is no place to raise children.
Salah is well-known and comes here often. The little boys light up when they see him, and allow me to take their picture.
Depending on which side you’re on, the separation wall offers security or incarceration.
The wall’s graffiti is world-renowned, popularized by Banksy, a shadowy street artist/ activist figure.
More of Banksy’s satirical artwork is displayed in the Walled Off Hotel, adjacent to the occupation wall and guard tower.
Get the whole story and pics at posts Walled Off Hotel and Insane Asylum
When my cab honked in the morning to take me back to Jerusalem, I was ready to go someplace more cheerful.
At Checkpoint 300, I was told to say I was a friend of the driver, as he was not licensed to carry passengers. Nerve-wracking!
