Another day

The past few days saw great fluctuations of the temperature. Day time gets dreadfully hot but once the sun sets, it gets very cold. Lots of people sniffling and with the flu. But its not stopping the tourists who are flocking into the City. Hotels cost less now that the feastdays are over. But Eid al Adha is in its 3rd day. Tomorrow is the last day of the Eid and being Friday, we expect huge crowds of muslims in the City.

Today an arab driving a bulldozer crashed into a road block and was shot dead by israeli soldiers. This happened several years ago here in Jerusalem ... several times ... I think 3 times. It's bulldozer terrorism. Everyone is whispering about a 3rd Intifada having started ... what with attacks on Israelis every week for the past month.

Making mahmoul by hand

On the bright side, I had the chance to see how mahmoul was made by hand. It's the date-filled cookies usually made by christians on Easter but can be found in most muslim pastry chops all year round. And also thanks to Debbie Wong for her gift.

Pope Francis will be visiting the Holyland in March 2014, Israeli newspapers report. We're expecting massive crowds. But a tension between the Jerusalem municipality and the Catholic Church has to first be resolved: the municipality has erected a huge electrical pylon in front of the Basilica of the Agony (Garden of Gethsemani) to provide electricity to illegal jewish settlers living south of that area. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.552872   An israeli judge condemned the municipality but so far the municipality is not doing anything to remove it. Fear of the settlers who hold important votes for the next election. Let's see how this developes.