We are in Bethlehem! All the flights went well, only very short delays. We arrived at Ben Gurion airport on time, and after a little bit of confusion (we thought we were missing two people) met our tour guide Johnny and driver Gol. Darkness was coming upon us, so we missed some of the scenery on the way to Bethlehem, but got an imformative talk along the way. We were all in our rooms by 7:00 and eating by 7:15 -- a delicious soup, a series of salads of varying interests to the pilgrims' tastebuds, and then rice, chicken and mixed vegetables for the main course. Dessert was an array of fruit.
After dinner I asked a few people to join me on a short walk to confirm the way to the Nativity Church. We found it easily, and follwed Pope Paul VI street to Manger Square and to the door of the church itself. Some of us will go on an early morning walk to visit it before the bulk of the tourists arrive.
The weather is wonderful. Even at 8:30 at night it was well into the 60s. The weather should be good tomorrow as well -- although it is notoriously changeable. We are to board the bus at 8:00 tomorrow, with Mass at 9:00 in Stl Jerome cave, adjacent to the grotto/cave in which Jesus was born. Later in the morning we visit Bethlehem University and meet with some staff and students from there, and learn a bit about life in Bethlehem.
I hope to write more tomorrow.