2. Bethlehem 2000

'Bethlehem 2000' was a joint initiative between UNESCO, the Palestinian Authority and the municipality of Bethlehem to restore the old town and Manger Square (which had become a parking lot), regenerating tourism and pilgrimage to this beleaguered town at the heart of the millennium celebrations.





'Ottoman' Farahiya Street

One of the many projects was to research and establish a walking trail from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  Sadly, shortly after the trail was inaugurated in 1998 the second intifada, with subsequent closures and checkpoints, made the trail almost impossible to walk.  In 2009 it was revived with a modified route to avoid settlement areas, military zones, new roads and other obstacles. 

Instrumental in this was George. 

 

 

My favourite view of Manger Square

   



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

I met George when I stayed with his family in 2011.
 
He told me "....walking the Nativity Trail is an epic biblical journey through a landscape little changed in 2000 years.  In the north green hills, ancient churches, families tending their fields and olive groves.  In the south desert, Bedouins and spectacular monasteries. Accommodation is provided at family homes in villages along the way - Palestinian home cooking...."

 

 

 

  

From that moment it was only going to be a matter of, when?

 

1. Beginnings

In 2009 I spent my birthday in Bethlehem. 

Dinner with Sharon and fellow 'Birmingham pilgrims' at the 'Tent' in Beit Sahour* soon turned into a party I shall never forget.  (Mysteriously, all photographs of me dressed as a 1st century Judaean shepherd have been lost.)

The Tent Restaurant

The next day we boarded our luxury, air-conditioned coach and headed north, 100 miles along Road 60, following the Jordan valley to the Galilee and ultimately to Nazareth.

This year I would spend my birthday in Nazareth and the next day head south, for 100 miles towards the Jezreel valley, along the Jordon Valley and through the arid Judean hills to Bethlehem – (mostly) on foot!



*I would return to live in the beautiful town of Beit Sahour as a volunteer with 'Palestine Medical Relief' in 2011 and Sharon and I spent two nights there with a wonderful family in February 2012. It would once again be my home for a night at journey's end.