Nazareth is one of the holiest Christian cities in the world.

Yesterday my sister left Jerusalem; she hopped on a plane, and I hopped on the first bus north. I was in the city for around ten days, and that was enough.

She worked most days, but we wandered the streets in the evenings and spent much time exploring the old city. The walled city of Jerusalem was hands down my favorite place to visit.

However, my time was up, and I moved north.

I am in Nazareth.

It is said to be the Arab capital of Israel. In 2021 the population was 77,925 residents and predominately Arab citizens of Israel, 69% Muslim and 30.9% Christian.

However, during the Roman and Byzantine periods, it was a Jewish village and the childhood home of Jesus.

I asked the hostel host about the population and its citizens, and he added ¨, it was Palestine¨ that I am not getting into.

Then I said it was the first place I had been in Israel where people were smiling at me, saying hello in the streets, and offering help without me having to ask.

Just me looking a bit lost, and people have shown me directions and assistance. Even engaging in basic conversations, when I ordered my food, the guy laughed at me when I said no spice, another asked me about the current US situation and laughed at my answer, smiles, kindness, and interaction, even jokes.. this is why I travel.

I have been in Israel for almost three weeks, and now I am starting to feel some of the warmth in a town that no one recommended me to come to.

I am heading to a volunteer gig on Sunday; this town is about 45 minutes north by bus. I figured it would be an easy trip on Sunday vs. the 6 hours trek it took me today.

Leaving Jerusalem was chaotic; lines were nonexistent, and people shoved and pushed through you. Luckily I can be rude too, so I shoved my way right through.

I have no problem telling someone the line is behind me; I learned that in Colombia. I have known to be more assertive as a solo female traveler, you have to be, or you will get nowhere.

I went wandering around the streets of Nazareth, and it is a bit dirty, unorganized, and chaotic, and I absolutely love it. Yet when I asked my host for the volunteer gig, he named three other areas up here to visit, yet he left this one out.

I also read online that most people do not spend the night in Nazareth; I am staying three days. I also had the best food since I have gotten to Israel, shawarma on the street.

I also asked the bartender at the hotel bar about this place, and his face was almost pained, and I asked if it was boring, and he said yes. I said I would love it.

Usually, people avoid boring places, yet I have not seen anything here that will bore me, the winding streets, the street cats for me to feed, and the people who are already curious about why I am here.

Tomorrow I will wander down to a coffee shop and get more information.

My sister informed me I am friendly and good at initiating conversations with strangers, so I will embrace her compliment and take it to the streets of Nazareth!

I will wander down to the old city, get lost in the mazes, eat shawarma on the corner, and of course, try to capture the parts that no one talks about.

XOXO

S.

If you would like to see a very long tour of Jerusalem´s Walled City, see below!