We took a taxi the seven miles to Bethlehem, the return journey and an hour wait only cost one pound. We passed the well where angels are said to have appeared to the Three Wise Men and told them where to find The Child Jesus in the manger.

We arranged for a guide, at no charge. as the Gift and Souvenir shops where all tours ended paid them. The Church of Three Sisters was so called as Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Protestants shared it, somewhat less than harmoniously I am afraid. They have been known to throw bottles and stones at each other's processions, The entrance door was only about four feet high, this was said to prevent the Arabs from using it as a stable for their camels. There was service being conducted by all three groups.

In the Greek part the old floor was overlaid by a newer one to preserve it. Upon opening a trap door one could view the original floor which was a mosaic of the Star of Bethlehem, the Rising Sun and the Swastika, all very well preserved. One beautiful work of art amid the many was a picture of the Virgin Mary. The face was painted on canvas background and the cloak was worked in gold and silver relief. The altar rail was one piece of wood carved with the most intricate designs one could imagine.

The Roman Catholic part housed the Grotto of the Nativity and inside was the Manger and the Star of Bethlehem, on the ground was a cup shaped indent, where the Star is alleged to have descended and in which the public are invited to place religious objects to be blessed.

As expected the guide finished the tour at the '' Oriental Souvenir Shop '', why the ''oriental '' part of the name is anybody's guess. I bought a few items including a Rosary and returned to the R.C. church and had it blessed. We returned by taxi to Jerusalem passing the Tomb of Rachael on the way and were just in time to catch the bus back to Sarona Camp.

Later while stationed in Nazareth, a few of us drove to Bethlehem to attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve, we were very impressed with the pomp and pageant and the ''holy ambience of the church. The Diplomats from various countries were ushered in by an old man with a staff, which he banged on the floor and announced the name and country of the person entering the Church, somehow they missed our names, I can't imagine why.