Ascension Day

Ascension chapel - now a mosque

So Easter ends today ... with Ascension. Vigils were sung up at the Imbomon - the traditional site on the top of the Mt. of Olives where the remains of a Crusader church still stands (though today it is a mosque after its capture by muslims centuries ago). From 11pm last night till morning today, Masses were celebrated and psalms were chanted. The ascension is a reminder for us that we not only will resurrect after death but will enter heaven again - the paradise that we lost through sin. It's Paradise Regained.

The weather was brilliant for this feast. Deep blue skies and an occasional cool breeze. But despite the festive spirit, violence broke out at the border of the Gaza Strip. 8 Palestinians wounded after they were allegedly armed for some attack on Israel.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/palestinian-report-idf-soldiers-open-fire-near-gaza-border-8-wounded-1.431058

Carp in my favourite pond at the Boulevard

Flowering jacarunda

I decided to take advantage of this feastday to go for a walk by the Boulevard in Tel Aviv. Needed a change of air and space after my stress-filled week that ended with my fainting 2 days back. It was a very nice walk - under the purple-flowered jacarunda trees, watching the carp in the pond. It was a good break. A little "ascension" experience; a little "paradise regained".