Walk Through Bethlehem

We took Son1 and Son2 on a Walk Through Bethlehem, hosted by a local church. When we first arrived we were greeted by Roman guards. We had to go and register our family name at the census, in Bethlehem. These guards were gentle. They offered Son1 their shield to hold.Once we registered our family name, we were seranaded by some town musicians, while we waited for our guide.

Since Bethlehem was under Ceasar's rule, we were stopped by guards and questioned to make sure we had registered our family name. We had to pass through this area of blind beggars, and homeless people, before we could get to the marketplace. I was glad Son1 wasn't frightened because it was very realistic. Hubby's favorite part was the guy that was stowed under the sewer grate and was throwing his hands up through the grate. Yuck. After we went through the beggar alley, we finally arrived at the marketplace. Zacheus made sure we had paid our taxes. The marketplace was well set up for the tour of Bethlehem. It looked like a real farmer's market (no relation to us, ha ha). Here Son1 is checking out the pommegranates and grapes. He sampled a lot of stuff at the marketplae. One vendor offered me some dates. "Ohhhh, I have never had dates." So the vendor looked at me curiously and said, "Oh, I am sure you have. Isn't that your husband?" Ha ha. That is some Bethlehem humor for you.

These women at the well are gossipping about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Son1 was really interested in this angel's wings by this point. And just for extra measure to make we were watching, she continually flapped them, just because she could. Yeah...that totally enthralled Son1.

We continued through and watched some rabbinical teaching in a boys' school and found the inn keeper counting money.

He encouraged us to go out to the stable and find Mary, Joseph and Jesus. But along the way we encountered shephers quaking at the sight.....and see this chorus of angels...singing Alleluia.

Soon after we found Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, and the magi, in the last scene. It was raining, and it was way past Son2's bed time, so we wandered a little past the food table and rather quickly went home. The cast did a great job, though. It was a thorough 11 scenes