The Church of the Nativity is undergoing restoration, so it's clad with scaffolding and plastic sheeting and covered with cranes. We join the queue heading for Grotto of the Nativity - another hour long wait with, oddly enough, the same fellow-travellers getting a little giggly as when we wait in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
 

It starts with us trying to fit all five fingers into the holes of one of the columns, said to have been held up by the virgin. I don't get it right enough for one of the queuers, so try again, and the giggling starts. We end up sharing Sunday school stories, like 'Here's the church and here's the steeple; Open the door and there's the people; Here's the minister going upstairs; here's the minister saying his prayers.' Laughter all round as the others try - they're as thumby as I was with the column.
 

But we need to go down (smooth and slippery) stairs to enter the Grotto of the Nativity. It's near closing time so the push is on, but we make it. At the chapel of the manger I manage a few lines of 'O Come Let Us Adore Him.' André joins in a few feet away.
 

The coach finds it difficult to negotiate the narrow streets, but when we reach Dar Annadwa there's a warm welcome and a comfortable room.
 

The Lutherans know how to do it!