Nazareth was captured by the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799, during his Syrian campaign. Napoleon took the time to visit the holy sites and then moved on to new conquests…
This is what Nazareth looked like a little less than one hundred years after Napoleon visited:
And this is what Nazareth looks like when you enter it now:
Many people visit Nazareth because of its religious significance. In the New Testament, the city is identified as the childhood home of Jesus, and is thus a center of Christian pilgrimage. Shrines commemorating biblical events can be found scattered across the city:
The Church of the Annunciation… This is the largest church in the Middle East and one of the Christian world’s most holy sites. The church is said to stand on the site of Mary’s home, where the angel Gabriel supposedly appeared to her with some interesting news:
This is the interior of St Joseph’s Church which occupies the site said to be that of Joseph’s carpentry shop:
However, I’m not really that into churches (aside from an architectural standpoint such as with Ulm Cathedral in Germany).
It is far more enjoyable to me to wander around and explore a town:
And to meet animals:
And also to meet people:
Despite its historical connections to Christianity, Nazareth is an Arab town where 70% of the population are Muslims. In fact, Nazareth is known as “the Arab capital of Israel” which comes as a surprise to some:
This is a factory we visited where they process spices:
A spice warehouse inside the small factory:
A bakery we patronized:
In July 2006 a rocket fired by Hezbollah during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict killed two children near here:
The Velvet Rocket 
Hi Justin. Although you’re not big on churches, thanks for these pix. Your pic of the staircases is beautifully executed – reminds me of a Vassaraly gone normal. Incidentally, the dangling loofah with the spices is identical, except shorter, than the loofahs I was buying last year in Mosul, Iraq. This design is the preffered one for its easy manoeverablity. Go well. Jan
I love the photos of the spice shop, bakery and outdoor food stalls – reminds me of Turkey
interesting photos – not the usual pretty scenery type photos
greetings from tasmania……..google figbat oswald and see if you can work it out.
i came up with a theory that involves the book of genesis (fig leaves) buddha (sitting under the bodhi fig tree) jesus (many sayings about figs) ross hornes’ book (new health revolution) and science (figs are the most important source of food for fruit eating rainforest animals). i then experimented on the figs by eating mainly dried figs (same brand) for over 10 years now and found cycles which i related to the numbers in psgs 11/12 of the book of revelations. this theory has gone everywhere. so far i have had eliminations at days 504, 840, 1176, 1512, 1848, 2184, 2520, 2856, 3192 and 3528. today is day 3732. i have definitely found something. i am not lying. what i have discovered has gone around the world and many songs have been written about it
…….the foo fighters’ last 4 albums……coldplays’ last 4 albums…….”vertigo” by U2 (my first name is phil). an elimination is a day when you experience strong flu-like symptoms and feel terrible. bad stuff is washed out of your body.
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