Masada, Dead Sea, En Gedi Waterfalls, Qumran

Today was another classic day of more than you can process in a single day. We started out at Masada which is one of the most famous spots in all Israel. It is built atop a mountain that borders the Dead Sea. The view above is from the eastern side from which the Romans built a 300 foot siege ramp over three years to conquer the Jews that were holding out. On the western side the drop off is 1300 ft. The mountain top has been occupied by a number of groups over the years, starting about 1000bc until 300ad.
Looking North

and looking east toward the dead sea


Then we actually got to the Dead Sea. Unfortunately i do not have a picture of myself in the Dead Sea as yet because, well, i was in the sea, but i do have this one. And good news for all you out there, my denseness floated! It was in the end an odd experience. Not something i would like to do every day, however if i ever drive by the Dead Sea again, i will probably float again. It is a disgusting feeling getting out and just being covered by salt, like you have never sweated before. It was just strange.

Next came the falls of En Gedi. Again this is an Old Testament site, likely where David cut Saul's robe in the cave if you are familiar with the story, along the eastern edge of the Dead Sea. What will stick with me from this experience was all the water after all the desert. Today was the hottest day i can remember...ever. There was a short period on the bus where our air conditioner broke and we had to stop for inspection- we were all drenched. I just sat and watched the water pour out of my forearm. Just unbelievable. Anyways, hiking up the canyon next to a spring and passing three waterfall along the way! So so great.

Then we got up to the top and ran into a tour guide who came originally from the US. Check out his hip above.



Finally was Qumran. I put up a picture of myself because all the people i am traveling with told me i wasnt getting any pictures with myself: so here i am.

For those of you unfamiliar, this is the community of the Essenes and where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Little is known of Qumran, and in some sense the Scrolls as well. Most tour groups see the remains of the Qumran society as well as the first cave found from across the little valley shown above, luckily my tour guide some of the other caves as well. Looking at the picture above, you would never guess which cave we went into.

There is no identification or security at all, but we went into the cave in which the most important manuscripts were found.

Again there is so much that happened today, three of the most well known places currently in Israel packed into one day. I cannot explain the feeling of Masada- knowing the history of David camping there, Herod, the Jewish stronghold, Roman garrison. There is so much history contained in these places and our time is programmed so extensively there is little time to process it all. I am really excited to tell you all more of these stories when i get home. After we got back to Jerusalem, and found ourselves in nice accommodations, we got to relax for a bit. On the morning off i made it over to the famous King David Hotel, where i can afford esspresso but nothing else, and sat in their courtyard. I am beginning to feel at home over here. It really is a safe town- many people have commented never feeling safer. The lack of English is always a bit unsettling, but everyone is very kind to Americans (though they are not always kind to one another). The next post will begin with Jerusalem Day, a celebration of the unification of Jerusalem after 67 war, which seems to be a more politically/religioulsy/ethnically charged version of July 4th or Cinco de Mayo. The computer is dying, and i am tiring, night night.