Day 7

 Today, we drove east from Jerusalem to the Jordan River.  We had to go through a Palestinian checkpoint, but just for a mile to get to the river.  It is in the West Bank Palestinian territory, but they open the gates for a few hours every day so pilgrims can see the river in which John baptized.

Bedouin tribe camped in the hills along the road

Sheep grazing on I don't know what!

Hills of the Judaean dessert

From Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, we descended from 2500 feet above sea level to 1400 feet below sea level.  Here was the spot where we were at sea level. 

The barrier wall at the Jordan River

Standing (on steps) in the Jordan River, with Jordan just behind me

The view up the Jordan River

Palestinian soldiers watching the river

Mature date palm orchard near the Dead Sea

From the Jordan River, we drove to the ancient fortress of Masada.   Herod built a palace on one end of this fortress in 30 BC.  Around 70 AD, after the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed and Jews were fleeing from the Romans, a group of zealots fled here and lived for 3 years before the Romans came and besieged them.  It took many months for the Romans to conquer the zealots.  They ended up building a ramp up the back side and reached the city that way.  But, knowing that the Romans were almost upon them, the zealots chose to commit suicide rather than serve as slaves to the Romans.  The ruins are in pretty good shape still.  Excavations began in 1963 and some of the walls have been restored.  

The fortress of Masada 

View from the top.  The square is the remains of one of the Roman camps during the siege.

Everything below the black line is original.  Above the line is reconstruction.  These are frescoes.

The Dead Sea is in the background.

View from inside one of the habitations

One of the food storerooms

Remains of a roman style bath, where the floor below the water was heated by a wood burning furnace. 

Remains of the ramp leading up the steep slope

Ramp from the top

The inhabitants kept doves in the niches of this room

Looking across tot he cliffs beyond

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Beautiful vista

After touring Masada, we headed to the ruins of Qumeran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found.

The Dead Sea lowers by 3 1/2 feet each year from evaporation.

This is the ruins of the Essenes who lived in Qumeran as hermits who copied the scriptures.

The cave on the left is where the Dead Sea scrolls were found.

We then drove down to the Dead Sea to experience swimming in water that is 37% salt.  Impossible to drown.

That is Tom floating with ease.

Lots of people trying out the saltwater bath and mineral rich mud on the bottom.