A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood--part 2--daily life

October 23

We have been blessed to live in a quiet, pleasant neighborhood on Star Street, surrounded by friendly neighbors and with resources for all of our basic necessities close at hand.  Again, the longer we have been here, the more people have welcomed us.  It has been wonderful to be here long enough for that to start to happen.

It has also been interesting for David to compare what he remembers of Bethlehem when he was here in 1980 to the present.  Back then, it seemed that Bethlehem had Manger Square, and not much else--a very small, undeveloped town.   With the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, there has been the opportunity to build, to dream, to develop the city.  We see much entrepreneurship in the Palestinians--the most highly educated people in the Arab world--coupled with foreign investment. The result is many new buildings and continual growth to making this an attractive small city.

Here are a few more pictures of our neighborhood--more in the proximity of our living space:

The meat and produce market where we bought our fresh food (the manager was giving us freebies by the time we left).

Our favorite pita bread place--drive thru bread to pick up on the street.

Tagrid gave me a great haircut (and coffee and a visit after).  Yusef is in the background.

A pleasant afternoon at a local Olive Wood factory  (David earned a "dumb quack" that day when he looked at the wood and said, "Oh, is this cedar?"  Much laughter resulted, continuing over tea later).

Paul VI street, looking down towards Manger Square

Paul VI Street, looking up towards the International Center of Bethlehem (Annadwa) and Christmas Lutheran Church.

The Grand Park Hotel (who let us use their Wifi when we arrived)

The  two trees sculpture in the King David/Star Street roundabout 1/2 block from our apartment.

Looking down Star Street at night (our apartment is on the right across from the first light;  a mosque tower of Manger square is visible in the distance.)