We arrived and were heckled from the minute we got off the bus by Palestinians trying to make some money from tourists by taking them for a ride around the sights in their taxi.
Deane refused the first 3 guys that hounded & followed us tirelessly for half an hour.
We walked off and headed for the Church of Nativity, the place where Jesus was supposedly born.
Just as we got around the corner a new guy got out of his car and offered to show us around. He didn't seem so dodgy so after some negotiations he took us to show us the wall between Israel and Palestine 🙃
We then headed to the Shoehamerds fields, where the angel Gabriele apparently told the shepherds that Jesus had been born.
As we were driving there Nasser's phone kept ringing, he started having numerous conversations in Arabic and sending messages, Sherilyn got a little freaked out as she remembered our time in Tanzania! 🫣 honestly it was no different, except it was daylight, which Deane said made a huge difference 😳 🤔
Anyway Sherilyn asked Nasser if he minded NOT talking or messaging in Arabic as we were paying him as our private tour guide. He complied and we headed for the Church of Nativity, Milk Grotto and Manager Square, all of which seemed a little unreal tbh!!
We felt the church placed on the spot wasn't quite right!!
We walked thru Managers Square and the markets back to the bus stop for Jerusalem
Just made it to the bus stop in time for the local public bus back to Jerusalem, not a trip we would recommend tbh!
We had to stop at the border and show passports to get back into Israel.
