Day 3

Randomly teamed up with an Indian-American chap called Francis from our hotel. He likes to take photos. Lots of photos. Even more than Richard.

Started with taxi to Bethlehem, with 'Alternative Tours'.

Visited the Church of the Nativity, much of which is 1500 years old.

Laura is touching the traditional spot of the birth of Jesus.

Also in Bethlehem is the Milk Grotto - said to be the place that Mary fed Jesus as they set out to flee to Egypt. A drop of her milk is said to have turned the rocks white. Proof that breast is best?

Herodius is a volcano-top fortress constructed by Herod the Great. Climbed 'hundreds of giant steps' (Laura says) up through ancient escape and water tunnels to reach the top.

From the top you get amazing views over the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea and the West Bank area.

Here there are the remains of ancient pools and houses in the foreground with Bethlehem region behind.

It was windy up there.

And lo there were tourists abiding in the fields.

This church, back near Bethlehem, and the cave nearby, mark one of the traditional locations of the Shepherd's Field.

Returned to Jerusalem on a local Palestianian service bus, through the checkpoint.

Quick stop at cafe for Falafel and Humous, then on to the Via Delarosa to join the Franciscan monks on their Stations of the Cross pilgrimage, following the ecumenically agreed route that Jesus took carrying the cross. We followed up to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre but did not go in - saving that for another day.