Masada and the Dead Sea

We were both awake before the alarm this morning. So even though we had time for an extra half hour of sleep, we were up. We had Shabbat breakfast which meant that there was only mostly cold food and no omelet station. The rule is no work, which primarily seems to mean you can't push a button. Like the Shabbat elevator, which is set to just run up and down opening and closing at every floor for the entire 24+ hour period. So, there were people working but supposedly not observant Jews. It was fine. Hopefully they charge less for Shabbat breakfast than regular, but who knows.

The bus left at 9:30am for Masada. On the way we went through West Bank territory, which was just a check point and past Jericho and Qumran.We also passed a lot of Bedouin "encampments". We've seen these in other Mideast countries and they were large tents that looked like they moved around. These looked like shacks and sheds and plastic covered huts. It didn't look like they moved them around, but they hardly looked permanent either. Jericho we were told is the place with the longest continuous human inhabitation. Qumran is where the caves with the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Masada also has a long history but has been mostly abandoned since a 1st century siege that ended tragically. We saw the remains of Herod's construction there which was the same time frame as Caesarea. The Jews who died there later did not built, but just moved in and modified Herod's buildings. It was impressive. We were glad for the cable car up and down! Especially after yesterday, we'd have never survived the 1000 ft. or so elevation climb and descent. Talk about stairs!

The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth. The Jordan River that we saw in the Golan Heights in the North runs through the Sea of Galilee and I suppose just ends in the Dead Sea. I mean if it is the earth's lowest point, how could the water get out. As I understand it, it just evaporates. The Dead Sea is receding and is now in 2 separate parts connected by a manmade canal. We drove by both parts and stopped for lunch and bathing at Ein Bokek or En Boqeq at the Hod Hotel. Our package gave us all a towel pass at the hotel to be used to change clothes, shower and use the spa's hydro-facilities. We didn't but just accessed the beach through there and walked along the shore and back. On a clear day, you can see Jordan, but not today.

At 3pm, we drove back to Jerusalem. We got back about 4:30pm or so. We ate the snacks we'd collected about 5pm and finished our 2 liter Coke Zero. We have to meet in the lobby in about 20 minutes to walk to our evening light show that the entire group opted in to do. I'll post this now and expect to go to bed after we return. If I have anything else to report, I'll do it tomorrow. Today was an easy day touring wise. I personally had a hard day. My right leg felt like lead and I had to drag it along. Not an easy day for me, but it would have been a real nightmare yesterday.

Oh yes, last news. We got an Air Canada email and our bid to upgrade to Business Class on Monday was unsuccessful so it will be Premium Economy for us for 12 hours. So sad for us!

Hooray! The lights just came on! Shabbat is over.

Photos