Back from the Desert
We are now back at our hotel in Jerusalem after a three day tour of the Negev Desert. Our guides advised these would be some of the hottest day, or at least regions, we would see. The guess was that the temperature would rise about five degrees per day, they low balled that one. Today was unbelievable, but more on that later.
Our days have been spent wandering around really old stuff, much of which had to be uncovered by an arecheologist at some point or another. It has proven quite handy to have the three guides with us: Dr Hess from my school; Carl from Western Seminary in Portland; and Bob Mullins who is our actual 'professor' for our time. Bob spent 12 years at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, working on his doctorate when time allowed and digging at nearly every site we have visited. Both the other gentlemen have also studied and dug in Israel as well.
Left is an outlook in the countryside overlooking the valley where David killed Goliath. As we have entered into more and more of the Israeli Parks, the ground are quite nice. You can see the benches constructed overlooking the valley containing Hebrew accounts of the event. Though the language is quite foreign, most signs are displayed in Hebrew, Arabic and English so getting around isn't difficult.
These are bell caves where the top soil becomes hardened over the years and some (with a bit of time) cuts a hole in the ground. Eventually they carve out more and more creating the ginormous caves, sometimes creating a series as seen here. I should have gotten a picture with more people for scaling, but you get the idea.
We also spent a fair ammount of time at several different tels. Tel simply means hill in both Arabic and Hebrew but in archeological studies specifically designate a series of cities/garisons/forts which have been built on top one another. The specific one above has been excavated 10 layers deep dating back about 5 thousand years.
Then we went for a hike through a canyon which i cannot remember the name of currently
This is a shot where from the window down the hall from my hotel room. I woke up this morning just a short bit after sunrise and got this picture of the dead sea. The hotel in Arad was great (especially dinner) and we were all a bit sad to leave, luckily when we got back to Jerusalem our rooms had changed into the newer annex of the hotel. Much nicer.
I'm spent, i will hopefully find some free time in the morning to fill you in on today- i have a lot to tell but am too tired.
Our days have been spent wandering around really old stuff, much of which had to be uncovered by an arecheologist at some point or another. It has proven quite handy to have the three guides with us: Dr Hess from my school; Carl from Western Seminary in Portland; and Bob Mullins who is our actual 'professor' for our time. Bob spent 12 years at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, working on his doctorate when time allowed and digging at nearly every site we have visited. Both the other gentlemen have also studied and dug in Israel as well.
Left is an outlook in the countryside overlooking the valley where David killed Goliath. As we have entered into more and more of the Israeli Parks, the ground are quite nice. You can see the benches constructed overlooking the valley containing Hebrew accounts of the event. Though the language is quite foreign, most signs are displayed in Hebrew, Arabic and English so getting around isn't difficult.
These are bell caves where the top soil becomes hardened over the years and some (with a bit of time) cuts a hole in the ground. Eventually they carve out more and more creating the ginormous caves, sometimes creating a series as seen here. I should have gotten a picture with more people for scaling, but you get the idea.
We also spent a fair ammount of time at several different tels. Tel simply means hill in both Arabic and Hebrew but in archeological studies specifically designate a series of cities/garisons/forts which have been built on top one another. The specific one above has been excavated 10 layers deep dating back about 5 thousand years.
Then we went for a hike through a canyon which i cannot remember the name of currently
This is a shot where from the window down the hall from my hotel room. I woke up this morning just a short bit after sunrise and got this picture of the dead sea. The hotel in Arad was great (especially dinner) and we were all a bit sad to leave, luckily when we got back to Jerusalem our rooms had changed into the newer annex of the hotel. Much nicer.
I'm spent, i will hopefully find some free time in the morning to fill you in on today- i have a lot to tell but am too tired.
posted by Kevin Kuoni | 9:14 AM
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