Charming Nablus and Bethlehem

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Yes, it’s Christmas Eve and I’m posting a blog while sitting in my room in Ramallah. But I have fairly good reasons for why I’m not doing anything more exciting:

- It just makes sense to blog about Bethlehem—Jesus’ birthplace—tonight.

- Nablus is my favorite city in the occupied West Bank so it gets special Christmas Eve attention.

- I was too tired and didn’t make it the Bethlehem celebrations—though going there would have arguably made more sense than sitting at my computer. Around 120,000 people swarmed the town today! Too many. Plus, I already went to the Dec.15 tree lighting ceremony to listen to Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s empassioned speech (grasped the emotion rather than the words) and feel the holiday joy.

- I’m going to Jenin tomorrow morning and don’t need any more sleep deprivation. Despite the fact that I have NO obligations, deadlines, work, nothing…I’m somehow losing out on sleep. Welcome to Ramallah.

Merry Christmas!

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Photos

Bader soap factory
Nablus is famous for its (olive oil based) soaps