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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Why am I doing this? | Why am I doing this? |
| (7 minutes later) | |
| BBC correspondent Aleem Maqbool explains his motivation for retracing the Christmas journey made by Joseph and Mary in the New Testament. | BBC correspondent Aleem Maqbool explains his motivation for retracing the Christmas journey made by Joseph and Mary in the New Testament. |
| For all the sacred places in this region - Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jericho - it is the land in-between where you can often feel most connected to history. | For all the sacred places in this region - Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jericho - it is the land in-between where you can often feel most connected to history. |
| The hills and valleys have played a part in so many of the stories that still shape the lives of millions around the world today. | The hills and valleys have played a part in so many of the stories that still shape the lives of millions around the world today. |
| Whether you believe Mary and Joseph's walk ever took place or not, most of us became familiar with the story at a young age. | Whether you believe Mary and Joseph's walk ever took place or not, most of us became familiar with the story at a young age. |
| Many of us are even scarred by embarrassing moments acting in school nativity plays - or perhaps that is just me... I once played a sheep. | Many of us are even scarred by embarrassing moments acting in school nativity plays - or perhaps that is just me... I once played a sheep. |
| If it did happen, the journey of around 150km (93 miles), along Roman roads and dirt tracks, is likely to have been an arduous one, particularly for a heavily pregnant woman. | If it did happen, the journey of around 150km (93 miles), along Roman roads and dirt tracks, is likely to have been an arduous one, particularly for a heavily pregnant woman. |
| What does not get included in the nativity plays, is the probability that the couple also faced hostility from Samaritans who lived in what is now the northern West Bank. | What does not get included in the nativity plays, is the probability that the couple also faced hostility from Samaritans who lived in what is now the northern West Bank. |
| Complex land | Complex land |
| Of course, there are new difficulties today. The supposed route goes through areas of continued conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. | Of course, there are new difficulties today. The supposed route goes through areas of continued conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. |
| Army incursions, militancy, and checkpoints manned by soldiers are commonplace, and all have the potential to interrupt my journey. | Army incursions, militancy, and checkpoints manned by soldiers are commonplace, and all have the potential to interrupt my journey. |
| Still, the notion of a walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem is, for me, a romantic one. | Still, the notion of a walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem is, for me, a romantic one. |
| When I have told people here what I intend to do, they have generally seemed quite amused, but understand that it is a vehicle to tell modern day stories along this ancient route. | When I have told people here what I intend to do, they have generally seemed quite amused, but understand that it is a vehicle to tell modern day stories along this ancient route. |
| It will hopefully help me to get to know at least a little bit more about this complex land through getting to hear people's stories on the way. | It will hopefully help me to get to know at least a little bit more about this complex land through getting to hear people's stories on the way. |
| For carrying daily provisions and equipment, a donkey seemed as practical a solution now as it might have done two millennia ago, and will, of course, be an added connection to the tale that inspired the journey. | For carrying daily provisions and equipment, a donkey seemed as practical a solution now as it might have done two millennia ago, and will, of course, be an added connection to the tale that inspired the journey. |