Day 22 - June 1 - Wednesday

My Journal Entry:

Today was amazing! First we went to Masada, which was a huge Jewish fortress city on top of a mountain. Some Jews stayed up there for three years in hiding from the Romans, but Rome finally built a ramp up the mountain to get their soldiers in; the night before they attacked, all but two women and a few children killed themselves and/or their families so they wouldn't have to be slaves. We had to to take a cable car to get to Masada. I freaked out a little (internally) going both up and down (okay... maybe a LITTLE externally), but on the down, and elderly man I was standing next to started talking to me. He had one of those hats that has a built-in neck cover, and in a Jewish accent (but perfect English) he said, "You see this hat? They make these for people who are afraid." And with that, he put his hat on backwards so that the flap covered his face! I laughed at that, and he took the hat off and with a shrug, said "Me? I am not afraid. But I have have seen here many times people who are afraid. And you know what I tell them? I say, 'Stand close to me, and then you can be afraid of me instead!'" (Remember - this is coming from a little, elderly, completely unintimidating man.) :) I found out that he is a grandpa with nine (grand?)children. I took a picture with him after we got off the cable car, and afterward, he handed me his business card and told me, "You come back to Israel someday, you can take another picture with me! I will still be the same. You will look older, but I will be just the same!"
After Masada, we drove to the Dead Sea. "Swimming" there was the strangest sensation I've ever experienced! Not only is it impossible to sink there, but even staying vertical in the water is a challenge, and when you find the right angle to balance where the salt water isn't forcing your legs up to the surface, your shoulders still rise above the water a little bit! The water is a clear green, and you can see pillars of salt (maybe encrusted pipes?) lying flat on the sea floor far below you. The water makes any wounds burn like crazy; you can't even shave for a couple days before going in, or else you'll get razor burn. The water does make your skin softer, though.
After the Dead Sea we went to En Gedi, which is a big oasis (did I mention that the Dead Sea area is an actual desert? With dunes and camels and everything?) with a few waterfalls inside. The closest waterfall to the park entrance had a pool only deep enough to sit in, but the waterfall pouring into it was awesome! It felt like a shower on full blast combined with a jet spa and a massage chair. It pounded you hard, but not hard enough to hurt - just enough to feel absolutely incredible.
We stayed there a bit, then returned to Almog (the kibbutz we're staying at) and swam in the pool before dinner. Tomorrow we head back to Jaffa for our last full night in Israel. :( Tonight ended with a post-dinner trip to a gas station for Magnums. :) And packing too, but there's not much of that to do since we didn't stay long here.

Mr. Wilson's Details:

MASADA
We arose early to beat the heat (which wasn’t that bad after all, amazingly!) and headed for Masada, the desert mountaintop fortress, palace, and settlement built by Herod for his own use, but which later became the last stronghold of the Jewish refugees who escaped the Roman conquest of Jerusalem in AD 70.

The Romans pursued them to this desolate wilderness and set up a siege around
the mountain. Because Herod had left so much food, supplies, and even weapons
when he abandoned the mountain, the Jews were able to hold out for months. The Romans eventually built an earthen ramp up the side of the rocky promontory and successfully breached the defenses of the Jews. However, the night before their final attack, the Jewish people determined to commit suicide rather than become slaves to the Romans, so all the soldiers found were dead bodies atop Masada.

DEAD SEA
Continuing south from Masada, we went to a public beach on the Dead Sea for the strange phenomenon of floating on the dense mineral-filled water with no
inflatable device of any kind. Just getting your feet back under you, even in
shallow water, was a challenge. What a unique and amazing experience!

EN GEDI
Returning back northward along the shore, we stopped at En Gedi Nature Reserve where a spring-fed freshwater stream tumbles over several small waterfalls on its descent into the Dead Sea. We got to the lowest one in time to take turns letting it pound down on our heads and shoulders, and to relax in the pond formed at the bottom. After the oily-feeling warm water of the Dead Sea, the cool spring water was most refreshing!