Preparations for the Light Fest

A test run of an amazing light
exhibit in the gardens below
St. Savior's Monastery (New Gate)

The City is bustling with activities. Workmen and artists are etting up exhibitions inside and outside the Old City for the annual Festival of Lights beginning this Thursday. The starting point is Jaffa Gate where the same Light Dome dominates the huge Square like last year. Again like last year, there will be 3 routes: one through the Jewish/Armenian Quarter, one through the Christian Quarter and one along the City walls down to Damascus Gate and the border between teh Muslim Quarter and Christian Quarters. There're no exhibits in the Muslim Quarter as there'll always be vandalism and fear of violence. This year there's an addition to the Festival - a tower of light at the Jaffa Road junction. There'll be music and performances as well. Will be quite an experience.

In Damascus Gate's Palm Square, workers are stringing lights between the palms. Should be an interesting exhibit. Most of these exhibits along the City Walls are from international companies. Those inside the City Walls are local productions.

And the cold night winds will be welcome during the Festival of Lights when the streets and alleys are packed with thousands of visitors. Huge crowds plus high powered lights build up the heat by several degrees and can become very uncomfortable.

The asthma has been unbearable ... attacks now occur even during the day. Ah Ling of Mandarin Restaurant boiled herbs with pork ribs and called me over to eat last night. It should strengthen me for a while as I've been feeling terribly weak and listless. But that'll not stop me from walking the routes of the Festival of Lights. It'll be a nice break.