Sick

 While the streets today were still packed with jews, muslims and christian pilgrims, there was less tension. The soldiers have all withdrawn from our area. But this calm came only after several clashes - some quite violent - around the Old City. No one knows next week at Yom Kippur if there'll be an uptick in violence. We're hoping not.

Ethiopians with candles

Yesterday was also the Orthodox feast of the Holy Cross. The Old City was ostensibly crowded with ethiopic and eritrean christians, all dressed in white and carrying candles. I saw a group of women praying at the top of Damascus Gate while others mingled around after their vigil prayers. It was a beautiful sight ... in the midst of all the violence.

I'll have to go for a check up tomorrow as my heart doesn't seem to be right. My right foot is terrible swollen and the nursing nuns think its the heart. Others who saw it tell me to go quickly to hospital as something is not right. I can feel something wrong but I'll see what the doc says tomorrow.