Now, it’s finally time to go see Banksy’s murals.
Banksy’s artwork can be found all over the world, but here in Bethlehem, you’ll find what is considered one of his greatest masterpieces: “The Flower Thrower.”
Banksy’s Flower Thrower is gone?!
They say it’s painted on the wall of this gas station on Ash Salon Street…
But—it’s not here!
No matter how hard I look, it’s nowhere to be found!
I checked the front, I checked the back—nothing. The wall itself is gone!
Could it have been removed?
As I wandered around in confusion,
“Hey! What are you doing, sneaking around like that? 😡”
The gas station owner suddenly shouted at me.
Apparently, I looked suspicious.
When I explained I was looking for Banksy’s mural,
he said, “Ah, I see! Actually, Banksy’s piece is in the storage room now! Come with me!”
He opened a door connected to the gas station.
And there, behind that door…
There it is!
The one I’ve been dying to see!!
I can’t believe I get to see it up close—so powerful‼️
He told me the piece had suffered significant damage over the years from being exposed to the elements and vandalism.
So, just last year, they put a roof over the wall and turned it into a storage space to preserve it.
No wonder I couldn’t find it no matter how hard I looked.
In the end, I got to admire Banksy’s work up close for as long as I wanted.
(And don’t worry—if you ask the staff at the gas station, they’ll open the storage for you too.)
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Bethlehem is such a nice place—people here are really friendly!
Now that I’ve already achieved my main goal here in Palestine,
the rest of my time is just for wandering around the city…
The Palestinian flag
A UFO catcher (claw machine) with cigarettes as prizes—seriously?! 😂
How did that even happen?!
Gotta admit though… it’s got a kind of ironic brilliance.
After a while, I got tired of walking and took a short break.
Then came a visit to a fascinating church:
It’s said that the Virgin Mary once breastfed Jesus here, and that her milk turned the stones white—hence the name, Milk Grotto Church.
Then going to the hotel
Hotel: Dar Jacaman
Price: 45USD per night
Recommendation: ★★★★★ — Absolutely amazing!
The Palestinian owner is incredibly kind and welcoming‼️ Highly recommended!
I was getting hungry, so I had dinner at a small local restaurant near the hotel
(just a humble, everyday eatery)
I ordered foul (a chickpea stew) with some bread.
The soup was… okay.
But the vegetables were super fresh and crisp.
Later, as I wandered around in search of dessert, I stumbled upon a coffee shop that immediately caught my eye:
Stars & Bucks Café
Yes—you read that right. Not Starbucks, but Stars & Bucks! 😂
I couldn’t help but wonder: is that even legal?
But curiosity got the better of me, so I stepped inside.
They had milkshakes on the menu, so I gave it a try.
And… wow! It was delicious!
The guy behind the counter was incredibly friendly, and the place had a really cozy vibe.
The people here in Palestine—whether it’s the gas station owner or the hotel manager or any other strangers —are just so kind and genuine.
It hasn’t even been a full day yet, but I already feel more at ease here than I did in Israel.
Yes, security might be an issue here, sure.
But what you get in return is real, human connection—honest, warm communication that feels alive.
It’s a stark contrast to “those people who claim to be the only ones chosen by God” look down on others, and wage constant aggression.
Honestly, I’m already thinking…
I really don’t want to go back to Israel tomorrow.
(To be continued…)