Church of the Nativity

I always heard it was a manger.

But from appearances in the Church of the Nativity, Jesus appears to have been born in a fireplace.

This marks the spot, and Pilgrims lined up to bend down and kiss the apparent exact spot where the manger once was. It just looked very uncomfortable and unsanitary and hokey to this skeptic. 

But the church was filled with devout Christians praying and humming.

At the same time, the church was bedecked in white feathers and frou-frou for an afternoon wedding. Getting married where Jesus was born is trendy. Tourists in the square outside cheered the bride and took lots of pictures of the wedding party.