Nazareth

The second day tour in Israel started in Nazareth, which was the childhood village of Jesus.  It sits very high up in the hills of northern Israel.  Our first stop was the Church of Annunciation.  It is "traditionally" thought to be sitting on the home that Mary lived in before she married Joseph. 

 

 

 In the courtyard of the church they have many paintings of Mary that were sent by countries all over the world.  Here is one very small section of them.  Also, some of my favorites were the ones from countries that made their Mary of the local ethnicity - see the one from Thailand below. 

Behind the church, looking up into the hills around Nazareth.

 The sign in front of the church was typical of most of the signs in Israel - displayed in both Hebrew and Arabic.  This was also had English for the tourists. 

These are the ruins inside the church and over which the church is built. 

 

Just across the courtyard from the Church of Annunciation sits another Church - this one to commemorate the home of the Holy Family, Joseph, Mary and Jesus.  This is the inside of that church.