Georgette

Bethlehem Awaits You Every Year!
As soon as we set foot in Bethlehem, I could tell this place was more than a simple destination; it was a living, breathing chapter of history. Walking through its vibrant streets, crowded with tourists and lined with ancient walls, the city's soul merged with ours. These walls seemed to whisper stories of Christ’s birth. George, my travel partner, shared my excitement and curiosity about this historic city, his eyes shining with wonder.
We were drawn to charming little shops displaying beautiful olive wood carvings and colourful, embroidered fabrics. Wandering through Bethlehem, it felt like the city was alive with history. Near Manger Square, the delicious smell of falafel led us to a nearby restaurant. A local passerby told us that this was the famous Yaffawi Afteem Restaurant, founded by a family who were displaced from Jaffa to Bethlehem in 1948. Learning about its rich history made us eager to have our breakfast there.
After a satisfying meal, we made our way to the Church of the Nativity. Its grand halls and impressive stairs seemed to reach up to the sky. Inside, we found the place where Jesus was born, marked by a silver star on the floor. We heard a tour guide telling a group of tourist about Bethlehem’s ancient history, dating back to 2000 BC, and how the old town and the church became a World Heritage Site in 2014. This piece of information made us appreciate the city even more.
Outside the church, we met an elderly woman with a warm smile and eyes that encapsulated the city's history. "I am Georgette, eighty-five years old," she said, her voice pulsating with years of memories. She pointed across from the church to the Omar Bin Al-Khattab Mosque, close to the Church of the Nativity, illustrating how history can intertwine religions in an eternal dance of peace. "In Bethlehem, life is shared between Muslims and Christians; we live side by side," she said proudly. She added, "This interfaith coexistence has been a tradition since the visit of Caliph Omar Bin Al-Khattab to the city in 648 AD, who ensured that Muslims would pray in the Church of the Nativity one at a time, without gathering for collective prayer, calling to prayer, making any changes, and since then, mosques have been built near churches to honour and uphold this promise.

Georgette recommended we visit other beautiful places like the Monastery of the Lady's Well in Beit Sahour, Mar Saba Monastery, Beit Jala Orthodox Church, St. Nicholas Church, the Monastery of the Closed Paradise, and Solomon's Pools in the nearby village of Artas. She also suggested camping in Bethlehem's wilderness and enjoying the moonlit nights. However, what intrigued us most was the neighbourhood of the Seven Widows in the village of Battir. The story of this neighbourhood, narrating the tale of seven widows from the village who, despite being widowed at a young age, succeeded in cultivating the land to support their families, was captivating. This neighbourhood, with its simple old houses huddled together, overlooks the vegetable and fruit basket of Battir and the Ottoman Jerusalem-Jaffa railway.

We headed to Battir,where we wandered through the neighbourhood of the Seven Widows, contemplating their stories almost etched on the walls of the ancient houses, feeling the resilient spirit of these women. Every corner of this neighbourhood spoke of the cooperative work and solidarity that prevailed among these seven courageous widows who faced life's challenges with bravery and determination.

Renewed with enthusiasm, George and I decided to explore every corner of this city rich in history and spirituality. We bid farewell to Georgette with grateful hearts for this memorable encounter, which will remain etched in our memories. As we soaked in the essence of history, we felt that Bethlehem awaits us every year.
Did you know that the city of Bethlehem is one of the areas through which the Palestine Heritage Trail passes? Here, you can wander, enjoy the beauty and diversity of Palestine's nature, and learn about its history and heritage. For more information about the Palestine Heritage Trail, you can visit the website at https://phtrail.org/.