The rains returned last night but it was less cold - 12 degrees. Bearable. Streets get terribly deserted by 6pm in this weather. Everyone just wants to stay warm at home. I'm getting good at bearing with the cold. I remember the first time I experienced winter ... wore 7 layers of clothes. Now I get by with 3. Maybe it's because of global warming.
This morning the sun regained control of the skies as the rain clouds blew over west to Jordan. Got up early to take a pic of the sunrise - splendid view. Just far beyond in the centre between the foreground trees, you'll see the silhouette of the Mt. of Olives and the spire of the Augusta Victoria hospital. There was none of the normal reddish golden glow on the horizon. Instead it was resplendent white. Marvelous. Something that St. Paul on his road to Damascus encountered - the bright light?
Haven't eaten anything for 36 hours to stave off the diarrhea and cramps. Am doing well ... no hunger pangs so far. Today Khalil the cook is doing a piece of entrecote for me - baked in the oven of course.
Found out why there was all that tension 2 days back with helicopters flying overhead and soldiers everywhere. 2 Hamas leaders were arrested just down the Kidron valley. Yesterday ultra-orthodox Jews attacked another woman in Bet Shemesh. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/woman-in-beit-shemesh-attacked-by-ultra-orthodox-extremists-1.409065
Meantime the country is riding high when the Israeli film "Footnote" was nominated for an Oscar. Not bad for the small film industry here. it's the 10th Israeli film to be nominated in Oscar history. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-film-footnote-nominated-for-oscar-award-1.409001
_et_Rahil_Halim_2.jpg)
