Winter break trips and the rainy season
Besides going to Jerusalem during our winter break we also travelled up north to a really cool monkey forest. They host a bunch of small monkeys that were brought there around 50yrs ago. They are free to leave the area if they want but they tend to stay because they’re taken care of and fed there. And they have a habit of jumping and climbing on you as you walk through the forest.
The views from up there in the mountain forests were astonishing as well – green rolling hills with small towns nestled in between. This was only about a two hour drive north of where we live.
Oh, and I forgot last time, when we were in Jerusalem picking up a friend who lives in the area near the new American Embassy, we looked out the window and were treated to a herd of sheep by the side of the road – looked like something straight out of the Bible. The bedouin shepherd was seated on a rock underneath the tree.
I’ve never been here before during the winter, so I had no idea what to expect with the rainy season. From what I’ve heard, this particular year has been colder and wetter than most. It rains for almost a week at a time, sometimes a stratus low intensity long lasting rain, and sometimes a convective hard off and on rain with thunder and lightening. Then it may become partly cloudy for a while but then the rain returns. The Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), which has been dangerously low for years, is now apparently almost full again. It seems here things can turn on a dime. There has been flooding up north and even a couple of deaths related to the flooding.
Finally, I did get back to the US for another week of work – need to “stay in the game” and refill the coffers somewhat. Six months without work will do that to a person. And this time I paid for an economy plus seat with extra leg room. Highly worth it on a 15hr flight.
And, I noticed on the inside wall of the new El Al 777 dreamliner, right as you walk into the plane off the jetway, the following placard (in case you can’t read it, its “The Traveller’s Prayer.” The entire thing, not just an abridged version. Updated somewhat with an extra paragraph to account for the fact that we’re in a modern airplane, not a horse drawn carriage – This is my extremely rough translation of the second paragraph: “may it be your will to guard us from stormy winds, from storms, and from tragedy, and bring forth good wind to help fly this airship. Strengthen all the pilots who will fly her, and help us to arrive to our destination in life, in peace, and without any fear. Guard our souls and save us. And we will bless God, from now and forever, Halleluja”): You don’t see that on very many airlines!
Speaking of work, I did meet with the hospital here again and they have put in a formal request to the Absorption Ministry in Jerusalem to secure funding for my three month observation period at the hospital. And I talked with the new hospital medical director- who doesn’t speak English. I must have sounded like a complete idiot, but at least she didn’t throw me out. 😀