Ignatius feast

No hawkers in the
street.

Now I am sure I'm not the only one feeling the heat. Today was really hot though it was only 32 degrees. There were no clouds ... as is usual in th eMiddle East ... but the sun was slamming down hard. There was not a single breeze. Scorching is the right word. The sun just burns the skin. Leaves and flowers shrivel. Tap water is boiling hot. And the sure sign it is too hot ... no cats in the streets and no hawkers as well. El Wad street that leads from Damascus Gate to the Wailing Wall was empty. The usual bedouin women who sit along the street selling veggies and fruit have all disappeared. All the shops have their awnings extended and people huddle inside to avoid the sun. Shops selling smoothies and cold drinks are earning alot of money. I only feel sorry for the kids who have school holidays but the heat is keeping them indoors.

A motorist with gun

And the political heat is also rising. For several days now I've seen israeli citizens carrying guns. Not that it's unusual ... it's permitted by law. But it reminded me of the Intifada days when everyone was suspicious and jittery and guns were in every hip-holster. It wasn't a very pleasant feeling to go out in crowds like that.

Couple that with Israeli army drills in the south to evacuate jewish residents near the Sinai peninsular ... for fear of a war; war machines lined up in the northern border with Lebanon ... it takes little to conclude that the country is prepared for something big. Well summer is half over and usually wars don't take place in this heat ... machinery can get destroyed in this intense heat and soldiers cannot function well. It'll be in autumn when anything major breaks out. It's always been the case.

Anyway its the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The local jesuits probably are having a private feast as there was no invitation to a solemn Mass. And in this heat, it's best to stay indoors anyway.