Day 24: The End

Tianna's corresponding blog: (click here)

It was sad to see it all come to an end. We got up for sunrise and went to the same overlook. As a going away present I was given clouds. It made for a beautiful sunrise and a wonderful last visual memory of Jerusalem.

Day 23: Ben Guvrion & Valley of Elah

Tianna's corresponding blog: (click here)

First Ben Guvrion. These are old quarries. There was a hard layer of non-desirable rock on the surface of the ground and lots of desirable rock below. To solve this problem they dug little holes in the surface and then mined out in a bell like shape. Hence the common name for this place is the Bell Caves. A lot of inner walls started to collapse and made a large inner cavern. It is now a State Park for all to enjoy. Enjoy.

This is the Valley of Elah. Somewhere in this area is where David slew Goliath. This is also where the Brooke of Elah ran from which David chose the stones that he was going to use. I wanted to do a picture there. Ironically there were sheep and shepard boys there. Even more ironic they taught me how to throw a rock with a sling. Right where David did it, how cool is that?

Once we got back to Jerusalem we drove up to the Seven Arches Overlook. Above the Jewish cemetary and watched the sun set.

There's our rental car and my shadow.

Day 22: The Dead Sea & Ein Gedi

Tianna's corresponding blog: (click here)

We basically had two stops today. Dead Sea & Ein Gedi. There is more to see in this area but we ran out of time. One day is not nearly enough. I missed Masada and Qumran. Ein Gedi is a little out of place. Waterfalls and shaded canyons, everywhere else it was unbearably hot. This is the canyon in which David hid from Saul. Silly if you ask me. If I was trapsing through this area on foot or horseback you better believe I am stopping in this canyon to soak in the water. Of all the places to hide, David went to the only 5 star watering hole for hundreds of miles in any direction. Lucky sucker that he stayed alive as long as he did.

This is the waterfall that most of the lazy people stop at.

This is what lazy people do at the nice waterfall further up the canyon.

Here is the nice waterfall. I am glad most people are lazy.

On the way out we stumbled upon a herd of ibex. I left my long lens in the car so I had to carefully get as close as they would let me get.

And now the Dead Sea. 420 metres (1,378 ft) below sea level in case you are wondering.

Floating in the Dead Sea is one of the weirdest experiences you will ever have. The salinity of the lake is 33.7 % which is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. In comparison the Great Salt Lake ranges from 5 to 27% (Usually on the lower end based on water levels) and the Ocean is 3.5%. What that basically means is that you can not sink. You lay on the surface of the water not in the water. Warning, don't get the water in your eyes. We saw many small children screaming hysterically upon this discovery so I refrained from attempting it myself.