Nazareth: The Place

Nazareth.

A city nestled in the lush, verdant hills of Galilee. I am surprised how much like Ireland it can look, at least at this time of year, greener than similar geography in the hills of Central California.

In 2009, it’s not just a little village with small, archaic homes, or whatever I otherwise might have expected it to be. It is a medium-size city, relatively modern (as far as the Mideast goes – it has gas stations, Mideast fast-food places, normal shops, banks, a few tall buildings, and lots of stuccoed two and three-story homes).

It spreads out over the face of a green mountainside, reminding you most of some modern Mexican cities (think Mazatlan, Puerta Vallarta) in terms of architecture, with many square concrete & plaster apartment buildings and homes, and a preponderance of just slightly worn stores and shops. Otherwise, think of Sausalito, CA or other small towns across from San Francisco in Marin County, but of course less modern. Just don’t picture it as a sleepy, dusty ancient place where you would go in and wander around a block or two asking the first person you see on the sidewalk, “Can anyone tell me where Jesus’ house is?”