Of Spring and hibernation

Flowering clover

The weather has been holding out pretty well these last 2 days. Sunny, crispy and nippy. This has caused a sudden burst of life from the plants that have been sleeping in the cold. Clover especially has been prolifically flowering along every field, crack and slope.

Almond trees have also begun blossoming. An amazing sight - a bare tree weighed down by pinkish-white flowers. That's a sure sign of Spring.

Silhoutte of protesters in a setting sun

Taking advantage of this weather, a small group of Syrian supporters staged a protest against President Bashar Assad. They waved the Syrian flag and chanted slogans calling for Assad to go. Palestinians gathered around the protest at Damascus Gate ... mainly out of curiosity. Police were also present but they had nothing to fear. There was and is no desire nor will from the Palestinians to do the same with Israel as they have lost unity, vision and hope. A cowed people "walking in its sleep, searching for its own awakening" - to quote Khalil Gibran.  The Arab Spring has been more of a Palestinian Winter Hibernation.

The arrival hall's lights and columns

Meantime an early errand to the airport to pick up some friends of a friend brought my attention to some details of the arrival hall at the airport ... like the delicate lights surrounding the mellow yellow of the ceiling, shimmering like fairy lights. And the columns of the hall resembling the papyrus/lotus columns of ancient Egyptian Temples. It was rather delightful to notice these things.

Well that moment of awe at the architectural beauty ended almost just as quickly when swarms of tourists came out into the hall, causing alot of chatting, rattling luggages, barking dogs (dogs are allowed in Israel's airport) and ceaseless ringing of cell phones. And the cash machines cling ... as tourist dollars roll in. There may be no Arab Spring in Israel, but the Palestinian Winter hibernation is bringing in big money. Better rich but restricted rather than free but poor. Practical sense rules.