AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE DAY

(Its Saturday afternoon July 11th and we left our Jerusalem in a taxi at 2AM to catch a 530AM flight to Warsaw with a change of planes in Frankfort, Germany)   This post is coming out of order and I still owe you last Sunday through this past Wednesday.

Thursday, July 9th 

Today I went on a guided tour to the ancient fortress at Masada in the Judean desert above the Dead Sea.  The fortress was built the then Roman Emperor in the first century before Christ.  At some point the Israelites in an effort to reoccupy the Holy Land, took control of the fortress.  The Romans attacked with far superior forces and the Israelites, realizing that they would all be killed decided to commit suicide rather than be killed or captured by the Romans.  Of almost 1,000 Jewish soldiers and some soldier's families, all except two women and three children were dead when the Romans attacked the next morning.  The issue of whether  the mass suicide was an act of bravery or cowardice is still debated today as the Old Testament forbids suicide.  Anyway, enjoy the pictures.

After the cable car trip up Masada (you can walk up but the tour starts at about 4AM so you can hike before the desert gets really hot) I went to the Israel National Nature Preserve at Ein Gedi, a few miles from Masada.  I took an hour and a half walk up trails and rock steps, some without handrails and with wet rocks.  It was well worth it as there are several waterfalls along the way.  By the time I got to the top waterfall I had my shoes off and was cooling my feet in the water.  A very beautiful place in the middle of the desert and I feel very fortunate to have experienced it.  Enjoy the photos.  I tried to title them but so far I haven't mastered it.  

Vic