Last Saturday Donna and I spent most of the day in Bethlehem. We took bus 75 from At Tur to the bus station just outside the Damascus Gate and switched to bus 124 to carry on to the Bethlehem check-point. The check-point was relatively quiet. Of course a few Palestinians who wanted to go to Bethlehem were harassed in the usual way- papers, permits, palm prints, shoes and belts on a conveyor belt, the usual harsh Israeli voice shouting at a Palestinian who doesn’t do the right thing. Our Canadian passports got us through, and our favourite cabby, Mussa whom we had called from the Jerusalem side was waiting to take us to Manger Square in front of the Church of the Nativity.
It was a special day in Bethlehem. It was the annual Olive Festival. When we arrived there was a demonstration being held by the Union of Palestinian Farmers, and there was a stage in front of the Peace Centre where area Palestinian officials had gathered to welcome people to the festivities. The many speeches stopped once, out of respect for the Muslim call-to-prayer from the mosque on the opposite side of Manger Square from the Church of the Nativity. Young people from the Bethlehem area schools where Donna is working sang and danced.
In the square the various co-operatives supporting women, children, farmers and local business had set up booths where olive oil products such as soap, olive-wood carvings, cross-stitch purses, bags, wall hangings, Pashmina shawls and scarves, ceramics, and jewellery – all hand made by Bethlehemites. We discovered a booth where wines and brandy from the Cremisan Winery/Distillery were on sale. Needless to say we took advantage of the opportunity to stock up.
We walked the semicircular suq which begins near Christmas Lutheran Church and swings south and then east ending up in again in Manger Square, glancing down interesting side streets. By then it was time to eat. Our cabbie Mussa had recommended his brother’s restaurant in Manger Square, and so we enjoyed a shishkebab, a tomato and cucumber salad, pita and hummus – typical Middle Eastern fare.
Back to Jerusalem the same way in reverse!
It was a special day in Bethlehem. It was the annual Olive Festival. When we arrived there was a demonstration being held by the Union of Palestinian Farmers, and there was a stage in front of the Peace Centre where area Palestinian officials had gathered to welcome people to the festivities. The many speeches stopped once, out of respect for the Muslim call-to-prayer from the mosque on the opposite side of Manger Square from the Church of the Nativity. Young people from the Bethlehem area schools where Donna is working sang and danced.
In the square the various co-operatives supporting women, children, farmers and local business had set up booths where olive oil products such as soap, olive-wood carvings, cross-stitch purses, bags, wall hangings, Pashmina shawls and scarves, ceramics, and jewellery – all hand made by Bethlehemites. We discovered a booth where wines and brandy from the Cremisan Winery/Distillery were on sale. Needless to say we took advantage of the opportunity to stock up.
We walked the semicircular suq which begins near Christmas Lutheran Church and swings south and then east ending up in again in Manger Square, glancing down interesting side streets. By then it was time to eat. Our cabbie Mussa had recommended his brother’s restaurant in Manger Square, and so we enjoyed a shishkebab, a tomato and cucumber salad, pita and hummus – typical Middle Eastern fare.
Back to Jerusalem the same way in reverse!
1 comment:
That cabby looks awesome!
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