Old City gypsies

It's Simchat Torah today. Very quiet in the streets as no work is allowed on this last day of Sukkoth. Tomorrow life will return to normal. There's been a lull in violence ... probably because Israel closed the borders to Palestine during Simchat Torah. Let's see what the next few days bring.

Autumn fruit

I went to the Pharmacy to buy more medicine for my asthma. The cool weather is making everyone sick and my asthma has increased in frequency. But while many have the flu, cough and sore-throats, I'm luckily spared from all that as I was inoculated earlier last month. Doc insisted that with every start of the flu season, I must get my vaccinations because I'm generally less resistant to bugs. And then there is the daily maintenance ... which is taking a lot of vitamin C. Autumn is the time for the citrus fruit harvest so natural vitamin C is everywhere. I drink a glass of lemon juice with honey every morning. We have an apiary in the hills of Ein Kerem so our honey is all natural, no chemicals or preservatives. We're very lucky.

There's an article today about a tribe of gypsies living in the Old City. Actually right in our backyard! They're known as the Dor gypsies ... originally from India, which explains their dark complexion compared to the arab neighbours. Another tribe migrated to Europe and has become the Roma gypsies. Apparently they're shunned by the arabs for not being arabs, and ignored by the jews who never even meet them. They're a pretty enclosed group. And the funny thing is I never knew about them even though they lived just meters from us! http://www.haaretz.com/.premium-1.748717

One big news making waves .... Singapore Airlines will start direct flights to Israel in mid-2017. That will bring a lot of groups not only from Singapore but also Malaysia and Indonesia which has seen a huge rise in tourists. That is strange because of the latter are muslim States which do not recognise Israel .... officially. But it's a known fact that Indonesia has more contact with Israel than it will ever admit.