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Adventures in Travel

What are you doing this evening?

Waiting for luggage at 3:45am.

I’m attempting to get back to the United States from Amman, Jordan. The flight was cancelled last night due to technical issues. We made it away from the gate …. traveled two minutes then stopped. The pilot indicated there was a problem to which they were trying to repair. The next announcement was the cancellation of our flight.

It’s always an adventure when you travel…. trying to anticipate the twist and turns. It was 3:30am and the next flight to the US was a day away. Everyone was trying to get a hotel room (a port in storm) to relax and unwind.

I’m now ready to return to the airport and give this another try.

And the adventures continue!!!

Kathleen

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Bethlehem

Bethlehem was an hour and a half drive from Tel Aviv, about 75.8 kilometers or [48 or 50 miles]. A Palestinian town south of Jerusalem in the West Bank and considered the biblical birthplace of Jesus. It’s a key Christian pilgrimage destination, and astounding to see so many people from all walks of life participating in a holy expedition of just being here.

There are caves everywhere in this area, which were used to house animals, store food and hide if needed.  One of these caves [grotto] is marked by an inlaid silver star to show where Jesus was born, and the Church of the Nativity is built over this cave. 

Bethlehem is not very a big area to maneuver and walkable. Listed are a few sites to see if you have the opportunity to visit. .

  • The Chapel of the Shepherd’s Field- commemorates the annunciation of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, which is said to have taken place in Beit Sahour.
  • The Chapel of the Milk Grotto of Our Lady- a Catholic chapel since Byzantine times, this place has been a center of Christian pilgrimages. 
  • Chapel of Saint Catherine- a Catholic church adjacent to the northern part of the Church of the Nativity. It’s a parish church and Franciscan monastery with a complex inner-working of caves underneath the church. 

Kathleen