O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM… IT TOOK TWICE TO SEE THEE
I do not like a missed opportunity. A few years ago, I traveled to Israel with my church for a Christian pilgrimage experience. The Holy Land journey is an apex for many travelers and pilgrims alike. The opportunity to walk in the steps of Jesus Christ is an unforgettable experience.
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, was on the itinerary in addition to Jerusalem, Nazareth, and the Sea of Galilee. The church group arrived in Israel and everything was on the schedule. Once the pilgrimage began, we were informed that Bethlehem had been removed from the schedule. I was devastated and wept tears of disappointment on the inside. How could this be possible? I was so close to the Church of the Nativity, yet so far away. Jerusalem and Bethlehem were the highlights of the entire experience for me. But I believe in turning water into wine and the glass will always be half full.
So, in September of 2019, I decided to kill three birds with one stone. I returned to Israel to visit a friend, I was able to explore Tel Aviv, and I finally completed my Christian pilgrimage and visited Bethlehem. I did use a tour company for my excursion and was picked up from my hotel in Tel Aviv and returned to Jerusalem. (https://compasstravelisrael.com/). The tour company provided an extraordinary experience, but if I were to do the episode again, I would do the trip on my own so I could arrive at the Church of the Nativity 30 minutes prior to opening. The Church is very busy and the line to see the Grotto of the Nativity is extremely long. I would also allow free time to see the Milk Grotto, Manger Square, and the Old Bethlehem Museum. I did not have the opportunity to see these attractions because they were not included in the tour and we were not allotted free time to explore.
I highly recommend Bethlehem and Israel for a Holy Land Pilgrimage. If you have time while you are traveling in the area and wish to add to your Christian Pilgrimage, I would suggest Jordan as well. If you would like to walk through Bethlehem, please click here https://youtu.be/j_ZtsTrxfv0 . I wish you safe and happy travels and thank you for visiting my blog. If you enjoy theses video, please place a like on it and share. I if you love it, please subscribe to “Travel with Tani”, my YouTube Vlog. Happy Travels! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAEeL8gdxM4 Jordan Link
