This picture was taken at a church in Bethlehem which exists to commemorate the birth of Christ. The painting, here, is placed just over the spot which tradition says Jesus was born.

A picture of the landscape in Palestine. It's crazy how quickly the landscape changes here. In the foreground there is inhabitable (and barely farmable) land. In the background it quickly changes to desert wilderness. Fun fact: the most common cause of death in this type of desert is drowning due to flash floods. Even the slightest bit of rain funnels quickly down into the crevices of the hills.