Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Crosses and crescents share Bethlehem's skyline.
No longer just the little town of Christmas-carol fame, Bethlehem is a leading
Palestinian city. The classic Bethlehem panorama shows a delightful town capping a hill
with spires and minarets. But this view is impossible to find today, as the city sprawls and
is almost indiscernible from greater Jerusalem. If it weren't for the border crossing—and
the traffic—you could ride a bike from the place Jesus was born (Manger Square in Beth-
lehem) to the place he died (Calvary Hill in Jerusalem) in about 20 minutes.
While beloved among Christians as the place where Jesus was born, Bethlehem's sky-
line is a commotion of both crosses and crescents—a reminder that historically, the town
has held a mix of Christians and Muslims. The main square bustles with commerce. And
the traffic circle comes with a memorial to locals doing time in Israeli prisons. Here, im-
mersed in a sea of Palestinian people going about their daily lives, preconceptions are
challenged.
