Road to Bethlehem: Romantic Getaway?

Whenever you travel on vacation, there are a wide range of sleeping accommodations available. I like to tent camp and am looking forward to trying out hammock camping next summer. Maybe it's because there was "no room in the inn" that we assume Mary and Joseph were roughing it all the way down to Bethlehem.

I'm now about 41 km away from Nazareth, near the town of Tel Te' omim. There is little biblical significance to the town as it was established in 1982 after several moshavim were combined. This is a good reminder of the turbulent and conflicting claims to the land that have continued for centuries.

But nestled there along the way is a lovely oasis for a young couple: Zimmer Tov BeHava. These luxurious wooden cabins include a pool, spa Jacuzzi, shaded gardens and views of the nearby mountains. I encourage you to check out the photos, and read through the description.

But that only fuels my curiosity. What were the sleeping arrangements for Mary and Joseph? Would they have stayed at a cozy romantic getaway on the trip south? Was this considered a sort of honeymoon? Or did they simply wearily collapse beside the road after walking for hours?

Note: This is a virtual journey along a variation of the Nativity Trail. I'm matching my daily walking distances with Google Maps and exploring the areas nearby. You can learn more about the Nativity Trail at www.sirajcenter.org