I had been in Israel for just about a week. There was a lot
to see, but we had been given a pretty set schedule. Fortunately, my fellow
writers and I were able to convince our tour guide to go off the plan a bit and
it turned out to be our best day of exploring.
I woke up at the Dan Accadia Hotel in Herzeliya to another sunny
day.
The scenery here was beautiful and even though I didn’t have time to fully enjoy it, I did walk around the property a bit, taking in the views of the pool and beach.
The scenery here was beautiful and even though I didn’t have time to fully enjoy it, I did walk around the property a bit, taking in the views of the pool and beach.
We were off to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea.
Despite the fact that it is extremely hot, and the drop below sea level had our
ears popping, the distance of the sun kept the rays from burning as much as you’d
expect.
The drive took us through Jericho, though we only made one
stop, for a pose with a camel that was much more likely to be a tourist
attraction than a working animal.
Below there we could see a site you don’t see every day –
goats being wrangled down the desert dunes.
We stopped the bus at Neve Midbar Beach. We had about two
hours there and we all were anxious to get our swimsuits on and head down to
the sea.
Since the addition of this stop was last minute, I really
hadn’t done much research on the Dead Sea. I welcomed information as I walked
carefully down the slippery ramp.
From our side we could see Jordan. In fact, the border
between the two countries is in the middle of the sea.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the mud or the ability to
float and both surprised me. It was actually a lot of fun too.
The mud from the Dead Sea is supposed to be wonderful for
your skin as it has many anti-aging properties. We figured we had nothing to
lose as we spread it all over our bodies before getting in the water.
It’s true what they say about not being able to swim in this
sea. The salt content makes everyone float, a strange feeling when you try to
turn over.
We relaxed in the warm water as we hadn’t in a week, wishing
we could stay longer.
Before heading back to the bus we made a short stop at the bar,
then showered and changed. We were all so relaxed that most of us fell asleep
in the bus on the way to Jerusalem.
We had no doubt when we entered Jerusalem as the view is
like no other in the world, as is the history.
Jerusalem is the center of so many religions and the Old
City, which we would be touring, is appropriately a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Even though it was the Sabbath, a Jewish holy day, the sites
were quite crowded with tourists from all over the world.
You also couldn’t help but notice the high security and
soldiers everywhere, protecting this holy land.
We started our tour on the side of the Tower of David,
taking the road it’s believed Jesus took in his last week in Israel.
The Church of the Holy Sepulche, the place of the crucifixion
and the grave of Jesus, was as spectacular as anything I had seen in Rome.
As we walked around the Old City, we could see the Gondan
Dome on Mountain of Olives, believed to be an ancient Jewish temple.
We also visited the Room of the Last Supper, and the Room of
the birth of King David, as well as the Western Wall.
It was all a bit surreal since it had been so many years
since I had visited Israel and didn’t remember any details of these sites.
Before we left the Old City we did a bit of shopping in the
Arab Market. I came home with some gifts, and a belly dancer costume for
myself.
We headed downtown and checked into The King David hotel.
Many heads of state from around the world have stayed at this hotel which I can
accurately describe as royal.
My room was very large and well-appointed. It was clear I
was in one of the world’s most luxurious hotels.
Dinner was delicious, starting with an Israeli Salad and an
eggplant dish. We each chose our own main course, which included beef, salmon,
and a black ink pasta.
Before we headed back to the hotel we nibbled on an assortment
of desserts, including crème brulee and gelatos.
Needless to say, I quickly drifted off to sleep at the King
David Hotel after a very full day of exploring Israel.
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