8-days Pinoy solo backpacking in Winter Israel
November 02 to November 10, 2013
Since Bethlehem is administered by the Palestinian Authority, an Israeli military checkpoint stands on the road connecting the two locations. When I was there, no checkpoint occurred entering from Jerusalem, around morning. When I went back to Jerusalem, I just simply flash my passport to a roaming Israeli soldier inside bus, no questions asked, just that. Tourists are free to enter and exit the checkpoint to Bethlehem and back to Jerusalem as many times as he or she would like without any restrictions. Make sure to bring passport with Israeli-issued tourist visa to enter and exit the Palestinian areas.
I visited this place on 7th of November, Thursday, 48 days before Christmas celebration. I went via self-guided trip using public bus and the maps on erected post along the road. Travel time was around 30 minutes for 7.3 shekels ($2.1) fare only. No payments to be made on crossborder checkpoints. When the bus arrived in Bethlehem bus terminal, there was this one cab driver who I had an argument due to his aggressive persuasion to take a cab rental whom I did not want to. I told him that I'd like to walk the Little town of Bethlehem by myself alone. He was completely surprise given the worldwide fact of political disputes and war inside this territory. I told him again I'm not scared because I know Palestinians are nice people. He let me passed-by and even helped pointing out where to head to the major tourist spots.
Bethlehem is a small city located some 10 km (6 miles) south of the Old City of Jerusalem within the West Bank, in an "Area A" zone administered by the Palestinian Authority. The "little town" of Bethlehem, mentioned in any number of Christmas carols, attracts pilgrims worldwide on account of its description in the New Testament (and particularly the Gospels) as the birthplace of Jesus, whom Christians believe to be Messiah and Son of God. The Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest churches in the world, is the focus of Christian veneration within the city. Bethlehem is revered by Jews as the birthplace and home town of David, King of Israel.
I visited this place on 7th of November, Thursday, 48 days before Christmas celebration. I went via self-guided trip using public bus and the maps on erected post along the road. Travel time was around 30 minutes for 7.3 shekels ($2.1) fare only. No payments to be made on crossborder checkpoints. When the bus arrived in Bethlehem bus terminal, there was this one cab driver who I had an argument due to his aggressive persuasion to take a cab rental whom I did not want to. I told him that I'd like to walk the Little town of Bethlehem by myself alone. He was completely surprise given the worldwide fact of political disputes and war inside this territory. I told him again I'm not scared because I know Palestinians are nice people. He let me passed-by and even helped pointing out where to head to the major tourist spots.
Bethlehem is a small city located some 10 km (6 miles) south of the Old City of Jerusalem within the West Bank, in an "Area A" zone administered by the Palestinian Authority. The "little town" of Bethlehem, mentioned in any number of Christmas carols, attracts pilgrims worldwide on account of its description in the New Testament (and particularly the Gospels) as the birthplace of Jesus, whom Christians believe to be Messiah and Son of God. The Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest churches in the world, is the focus of Christian veneration within the city. Bethlehem is revered by Jews as the birthplace and home town of David, King of Israel.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Bethlehem
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| Grotto of the Nativity (beneath is the cave where Christ was born) |
