Bus from guest house to lower part of city, where we went inside 7 Haparsim Street, the House of the Master (‘Abdu’l-Bahá), and No.4 of the same street (where the first pilgrims from the West met after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s return from touring Europe and America). We also saw the resting place of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum (wife of Shoghi Effendi, who was the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith from 1921 to 1953 – the resting place of the beloved Guardian, grandson of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, is in London) and the outside of No.10, which is a Bahá’í property now just housing offices. 

      The energetic walked up the lower terraces again! In the afternoon we toured the arc, seeing further details inside the International Teaching Centre building & the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, and going in the Centre for the Study of the Texts & the Information Centre for the first time. We were quite tired by this time, and feeling that we had seen everything worth seeing, but then we got to the Information Centre, which is actually not on the arc but underneath it. What a finale to the formal programme! A computer generated revolving world on a glass screen greeted us in the entrance foyer, then we sat in a circular room with nine panels round the wall, each having a quotation decorated according to the traditions of a different country. Another quotation was inscribed round the top of the wall in large letters, and the spectacle was completed by a mock window giving us a view of the Mansion of Bahji by having a large illuminated poster behind the frame. It was explained that dignitaries were received in this room and that there were further rooms leading off it in which they could be given presentations and refreshments. 

      We then went down to the Shrine of the Báb via the 11th terrace, which includes a bridge over Hazionut Avenue. This bridge was made possible by Haifa city agreeing to lower this Avenue! 

      Mr.Furutan kindly came yet again in the evening to say goodbye and tell us more funny stories with serious messages. Then it was soon time to assemble in the pilgrim house for farewells to our fellow pilgrims and the staff who had worked so hard to enhance our pilgrimage, paying attention to every little detail. We went together to the Shrines and soaked up the spiritual atmosphere once more; for some, this had to be the last time, but those of us who had time before our departing flights could not resist one more visit for dawn prayers in the Shrines on Wednesday morning.

     [Before returning home, I spent some time in India, including serving at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Delhi, known locally as the Lotus Temple; click it to see the account of this on another page.]

 4  Haparsim Street

Rúhíyyih Khánum's
resting place.

Universal House of Justice meeting room up stairs on right.

Universal House of Justice banqueting hall.

Centre for the Study of the Texts.

Information Centre