"Dubbed the 'Unspoiled Queen', low-key Saba (pronounced SAY-ba) has strikingly little tourism - only about 25,000 visitors a year. Ruggedly steep, Saba is not known for its raucous nightclubs and flashy resorts. Instead, you'll find stunning hiking trails, pristine diving, day spas and awesome ecolodges.
Saba is the rare island in this region where a visit during July to September is actually pleasant (if there's not a hurricane) but a comfortably warm year-round temperature really makes Saba a good stop at any time."
Saba Summer Festival
Saba Summer Festival , a thoroughly enjoyable week of noisy parades, steel bands and colourful street parties, while Carnival is Statia's biggest party, taking place over ten days from late July to early August and finishing with a jump-up party at dawn on the last day and the crowning of the calypso king.
Winter Carnival
Winter Carnival takes place in December each year. A long weekend island-wide festivities with competitions, sporting events, barbecues, steel bands and dance contests.
Shepherd's Field
While in Bethlehem, it is worth while visiting the Shepherds Field. Located 2 km east of Bethlehem in the town of Beit Sahour, Shepherd's Field is the site where the Angel of the Lord appeared before the Shepherd's bringing good tidings of the birth of Jesus.
The Church of the Nativity
"The Church of the Nativity is the oldest Church in the Holy Land still in use. The first Church was built over the Grotto of the Nativity in the 4th century A.D under the patronage of the Roman Emperor Constantines mother Helena. Then in the 6th century the Byzantine Emperor Justinian built a new and even more elaborate church here. In the 7th century when the Persians invaded the Holy Land, they destroyed all the Christian churches they found except for this one. In the 11th century the crusader renovated the Church and soon many pilgrims flocked here to worship. When visiting the Basilica you will also see the Basilica of St. Catherine built on the foundations of a Crusader Church erected in the 12th century. Also outside St. Catherines Basilica is the Cloister of St. Jerome, who is probably best known for translating the bible into Latin"
Mar Saba Monastery
"Located just 15 km east of Bethlehem, is the beautiful Mar Saba Monastery built into the rock overlooking the Kidron Valley. The Monastery was founded by St. Saba in the 5th century and still preserves a way of life unchanged since the time of Constantine. The Greek Orthodox Monastery is still active and does not allow women to enter. Its exterior is by far one of the most impressive and fascinating in the Holy land."
Crib of the Nativity Theatre & Museum
"When in Bethlehem, you cannot miss out on this Beautiful and innovative Theatre and Show. The Theatre and Museum offer visitors wonderful entertainment and a great experience.
The Museum offers visitors 31 magnificent 3 dimensional models which take the visitor on a trip across time and space starting with the Creation and highlighting the significant stages of Jesus life.
The Theatre offers a wonderful animated show , about 17 minutes.
The Exhibition captures the imagination and work of some of the most famous artists in the world as they try to depict the envision the miraculous birth of Jesus through the eyes of their various nations."
Badd Giacaman Museum
"Located in the center of the old town of Bethlehem, just a few minutes walk from the Nativity Church is the Al Bad Museum for Olive Oil production. The building which houses the museum dates back as far as the 18-19th century. The restoration and rehabilitation of the site took place in 1998-2000 by the Department of Antiquities and in coordination with the UNDP and the Greek Orthodox Society.
The museum itself houses many ethnographic and archeological artifacts featuring the entire process of oil production. Furthermore, the exhibit also shows the many uses for oil such as lamps, medicine, food, soap and even cosmetics."
Palestinian Heritage Center
The Palestinian Heritage Center (PHC) was established in 1991 in Bethlehem by Mrs. Maha Saca. The main objectives of the center are the preservation and promotion of Palestinian folklore heritage as well as the art of embroidery. To promote the Palestinian culture to young Palestinian as well as tourists and visitors. The center offers many services to its guests such as, the exhibition of traditional costumes and jewelry, the Bedouin Tent, a Palestinian living room, a photo gallery, small cultural library, a gift shop, a photo shoot, lectures, dress rentals, and more.
Cultural Heritage Preservation "The center for Cultural Heritage Preservation was founded in March 2001 with the mission of providing a sustainable mechanism for the protection and management of cultural heritage in Bethlehem and to raise /enhance awareness of cultural heritage in the public conscience.
The building which houses the center dates back to 1912 which makes it one of the oldest thoroughfares in the Bethlehem city core. The building was rehabilitated and restored by the Bethlehem 2000 project with the support of the French Government. The center is also involved in policy reform, building and fostering community awareness, fostering international contacts and cooperation, research and documentation and management of conservation and rehabilitation projects."
Time Zone
GMT -4
Language Spoken
Dutch , English Scottish
Passport/ VISA
"Passports:
Passport or official travel documents valid for at least three months after intended return to home country required by all.
Visas:
Required by all except the following:
(a) 1. nationals of Belgium, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Jamaica, Korea (Rep), Luxembourg, Malawi, Mauritius, The Netherlands, Niger, The Philippines, Poland, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Spain, Swaziland, Togo and the UK for touristic stays of up to three months;
(b) most nationals continuing to a third country within 24 hours by the same means of transportation and not leaving the airport and holding tickets with reserved seats and documents for their onward journey.
Note:
(a) Nationals of the following countries must apply for a visa before entering the country even for touristic purposes: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China (PR) (except Hong Kong SAR), CIS, Colombia, Cote dIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kenya, Korea (DPR), Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic), Mali, Nigeria, Romania, Serbia & Montenegro and Vietnam. (b) 2. All other nationals may enter without a visa for touristic stays of up to 14 days. (c) All stays can be extended locally by the same period that they are valid for."
Climate
Hot, but tempered by cooling trade winds. The annual mean temperature is 27C (80F), varying by no more than two or three degrees throughout the year; average rainfall is 1667mm. The temperature can drop to 16C (60F) on winter evenings. When climbing Mount Scenery, the temperature will drop by approximately 0.2C (0.4F) for each 100m (330ft) gained in altitude.
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