Friday

Dressed as a Moroccan, near a
synagogue

 OK ... so my number of viewers today hit 1518. Very very fishy and my alarm bells are ringing. I hope people don't read too much into what I write, and jump to conclusions .... because my blog is nothing more than a chronicle of daily life here in the country.

Though its warmer today ... 6 degrees by day ... the skies continue to be overcast and grey and gloomy. And its drizzling. I saw youths dressed up in costumes for Purim but I guess the weather has kept kids and many others indoors. Nevertheless there's been festoons and lightings in the New City ... and several events as well. I hardly go out anymore to see the fun. It's not just the weather. I've been out of breath easily, and severely out of oxygen which makes me faint. So I don't go out. The situation is not improving so sooner or later, I'll have to go back to hospital. And I dislike that a lot.

Purim at a restaurant

As Purim coincides with Friday, the muslim day of prayer, thousands of people are converging into the Old City. Police have stepped up its presence and there are lots of stop-and-search going on. And of course it's targeted only at arabs. I wonder why the police don't stop and search jews who come to spit at us, or vandalize our churches.

This morning I had to go to the MC convent in Bethlehem to celebrate Mass. However I forgot the Palestinians were having their marathon. All the main roads were closed. We had to take a detour through the desert wilderness to get to their convent. And it was very cold. Coming home, I had to make the same detour. In all it took 3 hours just to go and celebrate a half hour Mass. And with my breathing problem, I was totally exhausted.

Tomorrow is the feast of St Joseph so many people will be going to Nazareth to celebrate it. I guess the Christian Quarter will be a little more quiet and tranquil.