Our first stop was at Masada. This is the place where King Herod built a palace way up on a mountain. We are talking desert mountain. There is no green here. After King Herod died, the Jews found what was once a great palace. This was during the time of the Roman siege of Jerusalem. Once the Romans found this Jewish settlement, they fought for four years to capture it. When they were finally successful all they found were dead bodies. The Jewish had determined a life of slavery was worse than death so they ended their own lives. Today Jewish pilgrims around the world travel to Masada as a pilgrimage. In addition to enjoying beautiful views of the desert mountains we also got a special visit with a Jewish scribe who wrote us a special blessing for our Chosen Group. He asked how we all knew each other and we said most of us met through this trip. He said we met because God chose that for us.
After Masada we traveled to the Dead Sea for a dip in the salty water. The water is crystal clear with no fish to interfere with your swim. Once you are in you simply lay back and enjoy a good float. You literally bob up and down like a cork in water. It is unreal. If you want to exfoliate your skin, just reach down and pick up a handful of salt (instead of sand) and rub away. My skin and hair are like silk now!!
Our final stop for the evening was at a Bedouin camp for camel riding and dinner. The camel ride was unreal! These animals are so very cute!!! Dinner was under a Bedouin tent with more amazing food and fellowship. Bedouins are basically nomads who set up temporary shelter wherever they want to work the land. There are camps throughout the desert.
We are now headed back to the hotel to enjoy a bit of wine with friends on our beautiful hotel balcony. Are we really living this life right now? We are Blessed indeed.
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