Masada and the Dead Sea

A (long) day at Masada and the Dead Sea, driven by Shimon (thanks to D). Incredibly hot again, though probably a little cooler than the last two days.

The drive to Jerusalem was interesting - instead of Highway One we took another road which took us close to Modi'in (an attractive newish Israeli town half-way between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem) and Ramallah, the capital of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. 

Then we passed through Jerusalem and past a large and well-established Jewish settlement in the West Bank (built in an incredible location on top of a ridge - with amazing views) - I'm pretty sure it was called Ma'ale Adumim.  After passing through East Jerusalem I had my first sighting of the security fence (ie. the fence between the west bank and Israel).

Passing through various check points (almost invariably staffed by hot twenty-something girls wearing machine guns - and who if they weren't manning a security checkpoint would fit right in at a Mount Scopus Memorial College 5 year reunion) we made our way towards Masada.  The highway is (mostly) shared between Israeli and Palestinian traffic.

The views as we came towards the Dead Sea were spectacular.  A desert landscape with the blue sea below and Jordan beyond.  And Masada has a distinctive shape.  Masada was very hot, with lots of walking and climbing in oppressive heat.  H coped really well, although we did get lost and climbed down an unnecessarily large number of stairs down to a viewing platform below the Northern Palace.  And then back up again as there was no alternative.  I have been before, but it is very well worth a second visit.  The story of Masada is amazing (and well-known) and the unlikelihood of a substantial palace being built at the top of a mountain in the desert makes it a unique experience. 

After Masada we swam in the Dead Sea.  Much more fun than I remember it.  Great fun floating and quite peaceful once a bit further out.  My skin tingled and I felt totally rejuvanated.  Amazing to float in the Dead Sea and watch the desert and rock cliffs on one side and Jordan on the other side of the sea a few kilometres away.  Unfortunately H hated the Dead Sea floating experience - she felt out of control and couldn't get into it.

Then we drove back towards Tel Aviv and had a very late (and good) lunch at a Lebanese restaurant in an Arab village just on the Tel Aviv side of Jerusalem.  Eventually made it back to the hotel.  A rest, then dinner at a cute cafe on Dizengof, a frozen yoghurt and pretty much ready for bed.