4th day of CNY

Ben Yehuda Mall

Despite the tension in the air, today Friday passed off without major incidents. The weather had suddenly turned very sunny and the rains have stopped. But the wind continues to be very cold. Forecast is rain again tomorrow. Well I hope  tomorrow's rain will not prevent me from going to work. I have Mass at the Holy Sepulchre and then an hour's class and then meeting up with some people on the library projects. It will be a busy day.

Despite the cold, people are enjoying dinners in restaurants and walks in the City. It's special ... before the heat of summer overtakes us. The last bit of winter fun. Purim the jewish feast commemorating the book of Esther will soon come round ... the first Spring feast. It'll fall on March 21. The weather is always warm for that feast.

A chinese exchange student form the U. of Haifa came to wish me a Happy New Year today. Travelled over 200 kms to Jerusalem for this. He's from an old catholic family ... very traditional. I met his parents last year when they came on pilgrimage. Nice simple folk. And it was very nice of the student to come all the way. I brought him out to lunch before he had to go back to Haifa immediately because the Sabbath was setting in and all public transport would have stopped.