The painting on the ceilings in the rooms is original.

This is my room in the Fauzi Azar Inn, My room is the only room on the 3rd floor, and the cross breeze and view were delightful!

This is my view from my bed overlooking the courtyard of the Fauzi Azar Inn

More views of the courtyard of the 200 year old mansion, the Fauzi Azar Inn. The granddaughter of the original owner now manages the Inn, and gave me two free breakfasts since it was my birthday!

This is the first course of my birthday dinner in the restaurant, "El-Reda," located in a 120 year old mansion. "Stolen Eggplant" is the dish, smoked with feta cheese, with a nice glass (or two!) of red.

The Basilica marks the Roman Catholic version of where the Angel Gabriel was said to have appeared to Mary and announced that she was pregnant with the Son of God.

The Basilica was a mob scene during the day, packed with large umbrella-waving tour groups, so it was a special treat to go at night and find the doors open. Me, Mary, and the rehearsing organist had it all to ourselves.

There was a strumming guitarist in the courtyard. Before long, the courtyard was filled with Italians there for a Saturday night candlelight sing-along. A nice end to a birthday!

I took a walking tour of the Old City of Nazareth which included the White Mosque, called "white" as a symbol of optimism, purity, and unity of all communities of Nazareth.

Most people think the direction of prayer in a mosque is always East, but not so. It always faces Mecca, which in this case is South.

The Synagogue Church, built in Crusader times, is said to stand on the spot where Jesus first started to preach.

The Greek Orthodox had a different theory on the Angel Gabriel's annunciation, that it took place while Mary was fetching water, not at her home. St Gabriel's church marks this spot.