Rain

Rain at Damascus Gate

It rained in the evening yesterday. We were quite disappointed that it didn't rain in the afternoon as forecast but by 6pm it started to rain hard. It didn't last too long ... about an hour or so but it was quite enough. Then the drizzle continued through the night. It was cold ... 6 or 7 degrees during the night. And very humid. I was only worried not about getting wet but slipping on the wet smooth pavement stones. I went home slowly and carefully. I did go to the 24 hour bakery to buy bread on my way home ... and people were generally happy that it rained. Nobody carried an umbrella. It's normal for  locals to walk in the rain and get wet. They consider it a blessing. Tourists on the other hand were carrying umbrellas. You can tell the difference a mile away.

Rain at Musrara

Today the air is clean and cold but it's not raining. Winter plants are growing new shoots ... like the roses. I should start pruning them tomorrow so they'll grow stronger in this cool weather.

There are so many groups coming these days ... I've met 5 groups in 5 days now. Thanks to their generosity I've collected lots of winter clothes which they will not need back in their home countries. The poor street sleepers need warm clothing and M. Teresa's sisters go and distribute the donations to them.