I visited Bethlehem...

...on Sunday and saw live camels and sheep. Witnessed Mary and Joseph's adventure in finding a place to stay, baby Jesus, the shepherds and angel, and the three astrologers--the works. Actually, the whole thing was set up to resemble Bethlehem, and visitors are treated as people coming to town for the census. Roman guards stroll around and bark at us who are in the way. Little children with cloth over their heads run around. Women show everyone how to make bead necklaces and baskets. I felt like I was one of the extras in a Christmas movie, which is strange but nice, in a non-Hollywood way. And all this near where we live! Gotta go again next year to spot the other minor music performances held outside "Bethlehem".