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Ayal and Berenika swinging outside Sweet’n Karem.

Well, only another day and a half left in Jerusalem. I feel like I have seen very little and of course could easily be distressed about being less than 30 miles from Bethlehem and not visiting it, but we do what we can in this life.

I have enjoyed the people the most. A day has not gone by that I have not met someone here in Ein Karem AKA En Kerem AKA Ain Karem, call it what you will, this village that is part of Jerusalem, where Mary and Elizabeth met at the spring and John the Baptizer was born. What more can I say? About 10 very decent eating places here, all trendy and tasty, some kosher so they are closed from Friday dusk to Saturday dusk, along with all public transportation. Gelato and fresh fruits are found all around, as well as no shortage of beautiful young people ready to serve them to you.

Ferrel cats abound here by the zillions, in Jerusalem and of course in Ein Karem where they sit atop any free space, usually garbage bins. They scream a lot, and I believe I also heard a jackal the other night, a rather unnerving wail but supposedly nothing to fear if that’s what I heard. There are also a number of loud birds here. Seriously it is past midnight and some joint cacophany of wails and screams can be heard in the near distance as we speak….
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My right hand on the Western Wall.

Well, for the first time this month while abroad I have FREE internet access while in a public space and it is @ The Coffee Bean on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem, though unfortunately I still cannot get an American cup of coffee even from this chain I visit at home in California. Kate Bush is on the airwaves, quite great. And so nice to not have to draw from my monies for this simple privilege of web access.

Of course Israel has been gorgeous, the people, especially the children, quite bright and beautiful. While I have much to say, I will limit myself to the pictures taken for now. I might return to the Wall today, unsure, as I met a Harvard professor in En Karem where I stay and he has invited me for a quiet walk and coffee.

As usual the financial stresses are what suck out the energy from a month-long trip like this: two of my accounts have had my funds on hold to be released weeks later — the 28th and the 29th — and that is just insane. We bail out these pricks with billions for their pleasure and they continue to rape us with no mercy. This is the tragedy and travesty of our times though this world has always been in the control of the rich.
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