Of sirens and Sounds

The upper fountain at Palm Plaza
is repaired

The Sounds of the Old City annual festival started last night. It was quite noisy ... we could hear it even from our Quarter ... the only Quarter where the festival is not passing though. In fact all festivals in the Old City bypass our Quarter because of fear of violence. While it's such a pity our area is never part of any municipal festivities, on the other hand it's a blessing because our streets are not blocked by crowds, blaring music do not disturb is till midnight and we can live our lives without strangers constantly poking their heads into doors and windows. In fact yesterday there was a movement by Old City residents to sign a protest topping more festivals from being organised in the Old City as it is too disruptive for those living there.   https://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=440297#.WqZPpllnQ98.facebook

Sirens sounded throughout the country at 11am warning of a rocket or missile attack. But it was just a drill. Israelis at work and in school had to head for the closest shelter. And of course the arab side of the population just went on as if nothing happened. And all this drill just seems to point to Israel's readiness for war this summer.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5162805,00.html

Confound this with an attempted assassination of the Palestinian PM while on a visit to Gaza. The rival Hamas govt. there is accused of plating a roadside bomb to blow up his convoy. Several security staff were wounded but the PM escaped. This summer will probably see more tensions between Hamas and the Palestinian governing Fatah party. The war scenario is getting more colourful.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5162044,00.html

On a brighter side, the Egged Bus company monopoly of bus routes in the Judah region where we live - that's the southern half of the country. Now with some competition, bus prices might be lowered and services would be more efficient. https://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=440291#.WqZJ-by5YMA.facebook

Hebrew uni. students at our library

As usual it was a busy day ... extra busy now that I am one short of personnel. Despite my arrhythmia I have to walk up and down the City to do my various work. We've been hosting students from the Hebrew University who are studying medieval music. They have assignments that focus on our oldest Crusader period hymnals. That means moving the 12kg books back and forth from our archives and requires 2 people to carry each book. They're bound in covers of wood and bronze. They were commissioned by King Henry IV of England in memory of his father John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster to be used by the franciscans at the Holy Sepulcher in the 13th century. It's world famous and has been in exhibition in New York's Met. Museum, Paris' Louvre etc...