Nazareth
Ever since I knew I was coming to Israel, Nazareth was a must see for me. Unfortunately, I have to start by saying, it was really not what I've expected. Being the largest Arab city in Israel (and taking account the conflict between them and the Israelis)...there were moments when I felt I was not safe. Few tourists, mainly male locals on the labyrinthic and empty streets, and of course...rain (from time to time). So, as you can imagine it was not really a pleasure to walk around. Not to mention that we got lost several times and it was a challenge to find the sights (even though we had a map). We spent so much time searching that there was no more joy left, when we finally found what we were looking for. But well...I saw everything I was interested in.
De cand am aflat ca voi veni in Israel, Nazaret a fost una din orasele pe care voiam sa le vad neaparat. Insa din pacate am ramas destul de dezamagita. In primul rand, Nazaret e cel mai mare oras arab din tara, si nu putine au fost momentele cand m-am simtit in nesiguranta. In primul rand din cauza conflictelor pe care le au cu evrei...niciodata nu stii la ce sa te astepti. Turisti putini, strazi intortocheate si inguste, aproape doar barbati pe strada si putina ploaie din cand in cand...lucruri ce nu inspira deloc siguranta. Deci, cum era de asteptat dupa toate astea, plimbarea n-a fost chiar una placuta. Bineinteles ca ne-am si pierdut de cateva ori, chit ca aveam harta iar atractiile turistice pareau atat de bine "ascunse" ca abia le-am gasit...probabil si din cauza vremii. Dar na...totusi am apucat sa vad cam tot ce-am vrut.
Basilica of the Annunciation - the largest church in the Middle East.
This Basilica is believed to stand on the site of Mary's home, where the Angel Gabriel appeared to her and announced that she was pregnant. The whole church is full of mother-and-child themed paintings donated by Catholic communities from around the world.
Catedrala Catolica Buna Vestire - cea mai mare constructie din Orientul Apropiat
Catedrala a fost ridicata pe locul unde se presupune ca a fost casa Feciarei Maria si unde a fost anuntata ca este gravida. Intreaga constructie e plina de picturi pe tema mama si copilul primite cadou de la comunitatile crestine din intreaga lume.
St Joseph's church
Not far from the Basilica there is this other church built in 1914 on the site considered to be that of Joseph's carpentry shop. Down in the crypt there are more things to be seen.
Biserica Sf. Iosif
Nu departe de catedrala se afla aceasta biserica consruita in anul 1914 pe locul unde isi avea Sf Iosif "atelierul". Sub biserica se afla o cripta...mi s-a parut mai interesanta ca biserica in sine.
Salesian Church of Jesus the Adolescent
This Gothic style built church is believed to be the most beautiful from Nazareth's many churches. I did not find it that impresive though. We got there accidently, after climbing up so many stairs, we thought it was something else. The Church is connected to a school. In order to get inside the church, you have to cross the main hall of the school...very dark and creepy. Brrr...
O alta biserica cladita in stil gotic se afla la 20 de minute de urcat din orasul vechi. Se spune ca e cea mai frumoasa biserica din Nazaret...insa mie nu mi s-a parut. Am dat accidental de ea; credeam ca este altceva. Ca sa intri in biserica trebuie se treci prin holul scolii de langa...foarte intunecos. Abia am asteptat sa ies...
St Gabriel's Church and Mary's Well
Ohhh...we searched all day for this church and the well. I wanted to take some water, as it is said to have healing powers. ;) The Church is a Greek Orthodox one and after their believes Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary while she was fetching water, not while she was home. Other believes, other Church.
Biserica Sf. Gavril si Izvorul Mariei
Off...cat am cautat dupa biserica asta. Am vrut sa iau si niste apa de de fantana, ca se zice ca are efecte miraculoase. ;) Biserica e ortodoxa si dupa credinta lor se zice ca Sf Gavril i s-a arata Fecioarei in timp ce lua apa de la fantana...si acolo ar fi fost locul unde ar fi aflat ca asteapta un copil.
Conclusion of the day: I don't know if I ever go there again but I'm not sorry i've been there...once! The city is just dirty with cats running around every corner, houses are in desperate need of renovation and as I wrote before, I didn't feel safe. Pherhaps is just my subjective perception, because all people we asked for directions were nice and friendly but those empty streets were really scary to me...
Concluzia zilei: Nu stiu daca o sa mai ajung vreodata in Nazaret...odata mi-a fost d-ajuns. Orasul este extrem de murdar, cu pisici la orice colt, cladiri darapanate si cum am scris la inceput...un sentiment permanent de frica. Poate de doar perceptia mea subiectiva, ca toti cu care am intrat in vorba erau amabili si prietenosi...dar strazile alea pustii, m-au inspaimantat de-a dreptul...
