Today was alot calmer and quieter in the streets. Everyone was out in the mosque praying all night, by sunrise everyone was home asleep ... and a tranquility enveloped the City for once in 4 weeks. But mind you, prior to sunrise, the crowds continued to pack the streets, eating, chatting ... while others remained in the Al Aqsa praying. I called my friend at 3.30am to see how the situaiton was in the streets and he was on his way home to sleep. He said there were scuffles and fights with the police at Damascus Gate. The streets were heaped with rubbish and reeked of urine ... and the public workers had a hard job cleaning up. In 2 days Ramadan will be over ... as many muslims have been remarking to me with relief.
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| Baby bulbul |
I decided to take lunch time off to visit my friend Sari and his brother Elias. Their family invited me over for lunch - warraq dawali and mashi kusa (stuffed vineleaves and zucchinis) - one of my favourite arab food. As usual I had a crazy time with the 2 brothers. They made a bookshelf for me but I could not bring it back to Jerusalem with me on the bus ... so I guess they'll bring it over for me instead.
My workload was added yesterday when the workers in the courtyard brought in a baby bulbul. Apparently the cat destroyed the nest but the baby fell off and escaped. Still not able to fly ... so now I have to handrear the baby till he's big enough to fly away. Well at least for this baby bird, God had heard its prayers on Laylat al Qadr and gave it a new lease of life. Now Im waiting to see if God had heard mine ......
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