Day Six

Today we started our journey to the Dead Sea. It is called the Salt Sea here and is in the desert surrounded by mountains. On the way we drove around the old city of Jericho and through an Israeli border checkpoint. We were going to start the day at Masada but there was a race that had the only road in completely blocked so we changed our plans and went to Ein Gedi first. We hoped that the road to Masada would be open by the time we finished there.

In Ein Gedi, we took a hike into the mountains. The weather was really warm. At the end of the hike we saw a beautiful waterfall. This area was where David hid from King Saul and David cornered Saul in a cave. We saw wild animals called rock hyrex. There were also wild goats called Ibex along the mountainside road. We have seen a lot of little lizards, too.

We were eventually able to get to Masada. It was a fortress built by King Herod the Great. The name also means fortress. It was last used by the sicarii as they tried to resist the Roman invasion. The area is high on a mountain, overlooking the land bridge on the Dead Sea. We had to take a cable car to the top. It is only 60 feet above sea level though. This is because the surrounding area is 1500 feet below sea level. It is called the lowest place on Earth.

After Masada, we visited Qumran, the area where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in one of the caves. There isn't too much to see there but it is neat. We ate lunch there at a big cafeteria and shopping area for Dead Sea products. Then we went to the Sea to float in the water. It is so full of salt and minerals that you really do float. I was covered in the famous mud by the time I got out. You can only stay in for 15 minutes so that you don't get too dehydrated.