A Half Day Touring, A Half Day Resting
Today was a planned easy day. At this halfway point in our trip, it was time to take a breather. And it was a fun exercise day too. Here is how it played out.
First, we visited the fortress hill of Masada. Herod built this wonder in the desert as a check point for those traveling from Yemen to Gaza to sell perfume and other goods. Built on a free standing hill, it is almost 1300 ft from the Dead Sea near its base to the top of the mountain. That is going from the lowest point on earth to sea level. Walk it? No, we took the cable car. There was a group of religious zealots who in 73 AD escaped from Jerusalem to live here, causing problems for the Romans. When their fate seemed sealed, they committed suicide rather than become slaves. You can watch the movie by the same name. We took in the view of the Dead Sea; the system for obtaining water; the palace which hangs in three sections on the northern side of the mountain; the Roman camp outlines; and the remnants of the siege ramp that was built to break through the walls. At the synagogue, several folks go their names written in Hebrew with a connecting heart for couples. A few of us walked down to see the lower level of the palace. It was all amazing.
We then traveled ten miles north to the oasis of En Gedi. This was one of the major areas where David hid out from Saul when the king was trying to kill him. Perhaps many of his psalms were written not far from here. You can understand why David came here: the water. And caves to hide in.
We ended our morning by traveling a couple miles from the hotel to a small mall where they sell Premier products (skin creams, etc). We ate lunch and then practiced the 11th commandment. Upon returning to the hotel, we were free to rest; float in the Dead Sea; hike, get a spa treatment. It was a very fun day.
Tomorrow we go “up to Jerusalem” by way of Beer Sheva and the Elah Valley, and Bethlehem,
Enjoy some pictures.
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First, we visited the fortress hill of Masada. Herod built this wonder in the desert as a check point for those traveling from Yemen to Gaza to sell perfume and other goods. Built on a free standing hill, it is almost 1300 ft from the Dead Sea near its base to the top of the mountain. That is going from the lowest point on earth to sea level. Walk it? No, we took the cable car. There was a group of religious zealots who in 73 AD escaped from Jerusalem to live here, causing problems for the Romans. When their fate seemed sealed, they committed suicide rather than become slaves. You can watch the movie by the same name. We took in the view of the Dead Sea; the system for obtaining water; the palace which hangs in three sections on the northern side of the mountain; the Roman camp outlines; and the remnants of the siege ramp that was built to break through the walls. At the synagogue, several folks go their names written in Hebrew with a connecting heart for couples. A few of us walked down to see the lower level of the palace. It was all amazing.
We then traveled ten miles north to the oasis of En Gedi. This was one of the major areas where David hid out from Saul when the king was trying to kill him. Perhaps many of his psalms were written not far from here. You can understand why David came here: the water. And caves to hide in.
We ended our morning by traveling a couple miles from the hotel to a small mall where they sell Premier products (skin creams, etc). We ate lunch and then practiced the 11th commandment. Upon returning to the hotel, we were free to rest; float in the Dead Sea; hike, get a spa treatment. It was a very fun day.
Tomorrow we go “up to Jerusalem” by way of Beer Sheva and the Elah Valley, and Bethlehem,
Enjoy some pictures.
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