I had one day left before I had to get to Amman to catch my flight. In order to make it into Amman for my flight, I would have to spend the previous night in Jerusalem because the border crossing can be difficult.
On my way to the bus station, I debated heading straight back to Jerusalem or spending a couple of hours in Nazareth, where Souheil whom I worked for in New Orleans grew up and where Jesus grew up as well. I made the decision to head to Nazareth when I saw the bus pull up. I thought to myself man, I hope I make it back to Jerusalem tonight because Nazareth is in the wrong direction.
On the bus I did some more debating. I had the phone numbers of Souheil's family up in town. I knew I could only stay there a couple of hours if I wanted to make it to Jerusalem for the night. I wasn't sure if it would be worth calling them. After some self-deliberation, I gave them a call. The first two numbers didn't work but the third rang through to Rania, Souheil's cousin. She was expecting me and told me to call when I got to the bus station (at least that's what I heard). I stayed on the bus waiting for the bus to stop at the station but it never did. I was the last one on the bus and the driver asked me in Hebrew where I was going. I gave him a blank star. Then he asked in English. I told him Nazareth. He said I missed it and then told me to get off the bus and take another bus back into town. He pulled over and booted me from the bus. I got off and called Rania to tell her what happened. I had to track down a local to help me tell Rania where I was because I didn't have a clue. Luckily, the owner of a pizza joint near by helped me out. Rania came and picked me.
We headed back to her house to pick up her sister Shereen and then we headed out to see the sights of Nazareth. The first stop was the Church of Annunciation where an archangel told Mary she would have Jesus. The church looked fairly modern as shown in the photo below.
They also had a grotto/cave where it's believed Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived. Below is a photo. People like to through money and prayers down there. Andrew, you'd have some good reading down there for sure.
Afterwards, they showed me the Well of Mary, the White Mosque, and the Greek Orthodox Church of Annunciation. They have a different sight than the Catholic church. Kinda funny.
We grabbed a shwarma for dinner and had kanofta for dessert. Pretty tasty. Then we headed back to the family house to visit with the family. People came from left and right. I was shaking a lot of people's hands. Sadly I don't remember everyone. Here I am with Souheil's family below. From right to left, there's Rania, her mother, me and Nazrieh (I think he's a cousin or friend. I'm not sure).
Below is me with Souheil's uncle. Everyone was very happy to have me there even if I was there only for a few hours.
After only 3 hours in town, I headed out to catch the bus. Rania drove me to where she thought the stop was but we missed the bus. Actually, it drove by and the driver waved at us (I'm not sure why). Then the next bus stopped to say we just missed the last bus. We hoped back in the car and tried to catch up to the other bus. We also explored me taking a taxi back until some one called Rania to tell her they had just seen the bus. Rania gunned it and we finally caught up to the bus. It was stopped and we pulled right in front of it. For some reason the driver ignored us and pulled out. Rania honked and then the driver pulled over and let me get on. Rania was a life saver because I had to make Jerusalem that night in order to cross the border the next day. I made it back to Jerusalem without problem. Phew. Another close call averted.
On my way to the bus station, I debated heading straight back to Jerusalem or spending a couple of hours in Nazareth, where Souheil whom I worked for in New Orleans grew up and where Jesus grew up as well. I made the decision to head to Nazareth when I saw the bus pull up. I thought to myself man, I hope I make it back to Jerusalem tonight because Nazareth is in the wrong direction.
On the bus I did some more debating. I had the phone numbers of Souheil's family up in town. I knew I could only stay there a couple of hours if I wanted to make it to Jerusalem for the night. I wasn't sure if it would be worth calling them. After some self-deliberation, I gave them a call. The first two numbers didn't work but the third rang through to Rania, Souheil's cousin. She was expecting me and told me to call when I got to the bus station (at least that's what I heard). I stayed on the bus waiting for the bus to stop at the station but it never did. I was the last one on the bus and the driver asked me in Hebrew where I was going. I gave him a blank star. Then he asked in English. I told him Nazareth. He said I missed it and then told me to get off the bus and take another bus back into town. He pulled over and booted me from the bus. I got off and called Rania to tell her what happened. I had to track down a local to help me tell Rania where I was because I didn't have a clue. Luckily, the owner of a pizza joint near by helped me out. Rania came and picked me.
We headed back to her house to pick up her sister Shereen and then we headed out to see the sights of Nazareth. The first stop was the Church of Annunciation where an archangel told Mary she would have Jesus. The church looked fairly modern as shown in the photo below.
They also had a grotto/cave where it's believed Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived. Below is a photo. People like to through money and prayers down there. Andrew, you'd have some good reading down there for sure.
Afterwards, they showed me the Well of Mary, the White Mosque, and the Greek Orthodox Church of Annunciation. They have a different sight than the Catholic church. Kinda funny.We grabbed a shwarma for dinner and had kanofta for dessert. Pretty tasty. Then we headed back to the family house to visit with the family. People came from left and right. I was shaking a lot of people's hands. Sadly I don't remember everyone. Here I am with Souheil's family below. From right to left, there's Rania, her mother, me and Nazrieh (I think he's a cousin or friend. I'm not sure).
Below is me with Souheil's uncle. Everyone was very happy to have me there even if I was there only for a few hours.
After only 3 hours in town, I headed out to catch the bus. Rania drove me to where she thought the stop was but we missed the bus. Actually, it drove by and the driver waved at us (I'm not sure why). Then the next bus stopped to say we just missed the last bus. We hoped back in the car and tried to catch up to the other bus. We also explored me taking a taxi back until some one called Rania to tell her they had just seen the bus. Rania gunned it and we finally caught up to the bus. It was stopped and we pulled right in front of it. For some reason the driver ignored us and pulled out. Rania honked and then the driver pulled over and let me get on. Rania was a life saver because I had to make Jerusalem that night in order to cross the border the next day. I made it back to Jerusalem without problem. Phew. Another close call averted.
1 comment:
I can't believe you are still traveling. I'm so jealous...working is awesome!
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