Transfiguration feast

Fight inside Damascus Gate

Spent the whole day recovering yesterday. Food poisoning is no fun. Alot of vomiting and diarrhea for 14 hrs. And I blacked out once ... crashed into a side table. Legs were really weak and wobbly. By night time ie 10pm I felt better enough to go home.

Just my luck as I entered Damascus Gate, there was a big fight going on. 2 arab shopkeepers joined by their supporters in a fistfight/ Israeli soldiers ... about 10 of them ... rushed in to separate the groups but they became the targets of both groups. The area was getting more crowded by the minute as tourists were also passing through. Then the soldiers charged at the arab youths surrounding the fight ... everyone ran down the steps. As I wasn't feeling well, I was hugging by the wall but in the stampede was pushed down. It was not a lucky day at all.

Bus to Bethlehem

Today I'm feeling better but my stomach and throat hurt. I've eaten very little and mostly only liquids to stay hydrated. Though I'm very hungry ... I have no appetite. The thought of eating makes me nauseous again. And yes I drank coca-cola ... the perfect cure for diarrhea. I had to celebrate the Mass at the Ivrea convent at 6am and then rushed off to Bethlehem to celebrate another Mass for the MC sisters. Gave them an hour's bible conference before the Mass. It's been a long time since I took the bus there and things  have changed in a year. The price is still the same ... 6.80 shekels ... but the tickets are computerized and not those colored printed papers torn from stubs. The bus-stop in Bethlehem has moved some 30 meters down to the John Paul II center instead of the Ephrata School for the Deaf. And the buses left on time ... even when half full. I rather enjoyed that. And at the Israeli checkpoint, local arabs no longer need to get off the bus for permit checks. The soldiers come onboard and checked everyone ... arab or foreigner alike. That was another good surprise.

It's Transfiguration Day ... and there was a solemn Mass up at the Mount of the Transfiguration. I saw the live broadcast online ... it was quite crowded with local religious and local christians. I no longer have the energy or health to travel so far and remain for such a long Mass. But it's a big celebration in the middle of summer ... which is nice. Otherwise