We went to Bethlehem for a few hours which was really awesome…We visited The Church of the Nativity where inside is the site where Jesus is said to have been born

Bethlehem is located in the West Bank and it is not always recommend to visit. The timing and the opportunity seemed to be right ... so we went

Manger Square

The main entrance into the Church

Mosaic floor built in 325 AD

Most of what stands was built in the 6th-century

The Jerusalem Y.M.C.A

We were staying at the Y.M.C.A in Jerusalem (we stopped on our way back from Egypt)


I was surprised to learn that Jerusalem’s YMCA was designed by the same architectural firm that created New York’s Empire State Building ,both built at the same time in 1931 . The hotel was simply incredible, not only did it offer low prices on the rooms but with its elegant arches, domes and 152-foot observation tower, it is a city landmark acknowledged as a center of cultural, athletic, social and intellectual life in Jerusalem! It even runs a peace preschool bringing together Muslim, Jewish and Christian children http://www.jerusalemymca.org/


Getting Back to Bethlehem, The hotel was able to arrange a guide to take us. It is a short drive but it takes time going through several checkpoints. Bethlehem is under Palestinian control . I felt welcomed and completely safe the whole time