Wednesday morning we awoke at 5:00 (yes, 5 am)
for a quick walk up the side of Masada. We carried our breakfast and
ate to the early dessert sun on top of one of Herod’s fortresses. After
touring the many areas of Masada, we learned how truly paranoid this
king was. Our chosen route of escape took us down the other side of
Masada along the snake trail.
Once we recovered from this treacherous walk we
decided to head north to Kayla Beach and a quick float in the Dead Sea.
No matter how hard you tried you couldn’t sink. It was awesome!
A quick jog across the road took us to Qumran
and a visit to the site of the Dead Sea Scroll excavations. We toured
the site and wondered if John the Baptist was truly part of this
extremely conservative religious sect. It was then back to Jerusalem
for either a quick nap or a shopping spree into the old city.
After dinner seven Jewish teens and their Rabbi
joined us for a great question and answer period. It was a great
evening, one in which each of us learned not only about the others
culture, but about what great similarities we have with those we think
are so different. Off to bed for a 7am breakfast and the start of a new
day.
