Annunciation Feast

Birthday tea time

Saturday we were locked in our house because of the road closures due to the Jewish Passover and the Christian Orthodox Holy Fire ceremony. The roads were opened only after 3pm when the fire descended. At 6pm I went out to meet some of my students who wanted to celebrate my birthday. There were not many places to go to .... all jewish restaurants and cafes were closed due to the jewish feast and all the christian ones were also closed due to the Holy Fire ceremony. Only the muslim side was only but they don't have cafes ... so we ended up in the cafe of the Legacy hotel. Not all the students could come as some had apostolates. We had coffee and tea and 2 pizzas. We couldn't afford much but the company was precious. The students prepared a surprise banner and secretly ordered a waffle with a sparkler. The girl in the next table also had a birthday ... so the waiters came out with both waffles and sparklers with a taped arab birthday song blaring in the sound system. It was corny but everyone enjoyed it. I'm thankful for this lot of students.

Dusk at the Legacy

On Sunday I voluntarily locked myself in my room ... no breakfast or lunch. I had to finish correcting a whole load of term papers, articles and theses. It was painstaking and very mentally tiring. I managed most of it but I still have a thesis and a half to go. I went to look for dinner at 8.30pm. The shops had reopened after the 8 day Jewish Passover. I really wanted some warm rice so I went to Mian restaurant and got a takeaway.

Yesterday there was a demonstration in the Al Aqsa mosque during lunch. From my room I could hear the chanting from inside the esplanade and then it flowed out into our street. But it fizzled out. I guess the heavy police presence was enough to put an end to that. But tensions continue and it'll flare up again.

There's deep worries in Israel today as we receive news that Israel had bombarded Damascus. Russia outed this secret and we're expecting retaliation. Mind you this strike was a retaliation over the downing of an Israeli jet in February. This summer is going to be eventful.

But meantime today we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation because March 25th was Palm Sunday. Nazareth's basilica of the Annunciation had the solemn liturgy and I guess it was very crowded. Today  I had to go back to work so I'm not joining any liturgy.