This is the house of Abdulla Pasha. The window in the foreground is the room where the Guardian, Shoghí Effendí was born

The main agenda for today was a visit to the House of Abdullah Pasha. We left on a bus at 9:30 am. Today is also another day you may want to pack your lunch although you do have the option of finding food in Akka after your visit to the House.

Some thoughts about my visit to the House….

Again I did some reading up before we arrived in a great book called ‘Door of Hope‘ and this prior knowledge combined with our tourguide Annes great insight makes the trip to these Holy Sites that much more special… Time and time again its amazing to hear these stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and actually be standing on the grounds where they took place. Its very moving.

A few special memories I have of the House are seeing the large staircase that Pilgrims would walk up when meeting the master. A great story I read in Door of Hope was that of Shoghí Effendí who as a young boy living in the house was known to be very ‘energetic’ and would race up and down the large stairs to the fright of the visiting Pilgrims who would no doubt cringe and look way as this was happening! I just love random stories like that and you can’t help but smile when you walk up the staircase.

The second standout for me regarding the House of Abdullah Pasha was seeing the actual table where Laura Clifford Barney sat down with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and collected notes of the discussion which would later become the book ‘Some Answered Questions‘ published in 1908. This book in particular is very special to me as it was one of the first Bahá’í Books I fell in love with. Also it was what I believe to be my Grandfathers favorite Bahá’í Book I had ever giving him as he read it over 3 times before his passing…

The Courtyard of the House of Abdullah Pasha - first view of the staircase...

Your humble blogger in the Courtyard at Abdullah Pasha... thanks Shradha!

The latter half of this day, you can stay in Akka, or take the tour bus over to Bahjí which is just a short distance away. There you can spend more time in the gardens, visit the library in the Bahjí Reception Centre which has an excellent collection of Books, as well as having the bounty of spending time in The Shrine of Bahá’u'láh for prayers, reflection and meditation.

For Bahá’ís: the food in Akka like all of Haifa is very very good. You will def want to set aside some time during your trip to wander around Akka. Its like stepping back into time… Today is a good day to do that as you are already there and don’t having anything else planned until presentation at 8pm this evening.