(Continued from previous post)
It’s May 31st, 2025‼️ Day 2 in Israel.
Today’s plan
Morning-Exploring Jerusalem
Afternoon-Going Palestine by bus
Exploring Jerusalem (Room of last supper,etc)
Morning of Jerusalem.
It truly has the Middle Eastern vibe.
Found a cat. Good posture.
Without even having breakfast, I made my way to the Cenacle on Mount Zion.
This is the place where Jesus is said to have had the Last Supper with his disciples the night before his crucifixion.
Oh! It says “Room of the Last Supper” right at the entrance!
(inside of the room)↓
So this is the place that inspired Da Vinci’s Last Supper, huh…
Once again, I find myself deeply moved.
Jerusalem is filled with historic sites that have shaped human history — they’re everywhere you look.
After that, I headed to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu.
It’s just a 2-minute walk from the Room of the Last Supper.
Entrance fee: 12 shekels (3.5USD).
Come to think of it, this was the first time I paid an entrance fee since arriving in Israel.
I’ve really wanted to come here because of this. ↓
More than the church itself, it was these stone steps that I came to see.
That’s because these very steps are widely believed to be ones Jesus actually walked on.
Actually, Via Dolorosa, the path I walked yesterday, is also said that Jesus walked on, but due to centuries of ground shifts and reconstruction, the original level is actually 5 to 6 meters below the current street.
However, these steps in this church have remained untouched for 2000 years.
So if there’s any place where you can feel truly close to Jesus, it’s here —
(even though I’m not a Christian myself).
A deeply satisfying morning.
To Palestine by bus!
Alright, time to move on to the main event of the day — Palestine.
And no, not Gaza — I’m heading to a city called Bethlehem.
Bethlehem
【What kind of place is it?】
Bethlehem is famous as the birthplace of Jesus.
It used to attract visitors from all over the world,
but since the Hamas attack in October 2023, very few tourists have come.
【Highlights】
- Church of the Nativity (where Jesus is believed to have been born)
- Banksy’s wall art
- The Separation Wall
【How to get there】
Bus No. 231 from Jerusalem
【Travel time】
About 1 hour
【Cost】
8 shekels (about 2.30USD), cash only
The security situation isn’t exactly great, so I did hesitate a bit —
but in the end, curiosity won out.
I found the 231 bus stop on Google Maps and waited there for a while.
The bus showed up, and I hopped on.
It will take me through Checkpoint 300 — the border crossing — and into Palestine.
↓
↓
An hour on the bus, and we finally reached Checkpoint 300.
I braced myself…
But surprisingly, there was no passport check whatsoever.
I entered Palestine smoothly and got dropped off in Bethlehem.
Wait, that’s it? I can’t believe how easy it was to enter.
Honestly, I was expecting a long, drawn-out interrogation by Israeli soldiers at the border.
(Turns out, getting into Palestine is easy — it’s getting out that’s the tricky part, as I’d later find out.)
But for now, I made it in safely — and I’m filled with excitement.
Exploring Bethlehem (Church of the Nativity, etc.)
As soon as I got off the bus, a swarm of taxi drivers rushed over, shouting, “Where are you going? Need a ride?”
They were incredibly persistent — some even followed me down the street.
I get it, though — I’m probably one of the few foreign tourists they’ve seen in a while.
Still… it was a bit much.
I ignored them and managed to slip away. Time to start exploring.
The city was full of life.
When people hear “Palestine,” they often picture the tragedy of Gaza —
but Bethlehem had a surprisingly bright and welcoming atmosphere.
Unlike the often reserved demeanor of Jewish Israelis, people here smile more.
There was a warmth and humanity to them that really stood out.
Palestine is predominantly Arab, so naturally, most of the population is Muslim.
(Women wearing hijabs and their children)
This feels really nice.
Scenes like this have a calming effect on me.
Of course, they sell vegetables here too — just like anywhere else.
Alright, time to head to the Church of the Nativity.
From the bus stop in Bethlehem, it’s basically a straight shot — very easy to find.
It’s within walking distance.
(Just type “Church of the Nativity” into Google Maps when you get off the bus, and it’s about a 15-minute walk.)
And now… I’ve arrived at the Church.
Inside the church, there’s a staircase leading down to a lower chamber.
In that room, there’s a marked spot believed to be the exact place where Jesus was born.
(The silver star ⭐️ in the center-bottom)
So this is where he was born…
I may be an atheist, but I can’t help feeling something deep inside.
One of the main reasons I came to Palestine has now been fulfilled.
I left the church with a sense of quiet satisfaction.
Feeling hungry — time for lunch.
I hadn’t eaten anything since morning.
Had a shawarma — classic Middle Eastern street food, and super popular in Israel too.
Only 9 shekels (3USD).
Things here are easily two or three times cheaper than in Israel.
Tender, perfectly seasoned meat, wrapped together with crisp, sweet-and-sour veggies —
the flavors just burst in your mouth.
Out of all the shawarmas I’ve had across the Middle East, this one is by far the best.
It’s so good, it honestly brought tears to my eyes.
Here’s the meat they used for the shawarma ↓
No wonder it was so good.
AL SUFARA RESTAURANT — I’ll definitely remember the name.
With my stomach full, I decided to go check out some of Banksy’s murals next.
…But this post is getting a bit long, so I’ll save that for next time.