Climbin’ & Floatin’

Climbin’ Masada and Floatin’ in the Dead Sea.

Masada is a mountain-top fortress and palace of yore. The only way up/down in those times (which of course is how WE went up/down) is what’s called the “Snake Path”. Not because there are snakes on it, but because it is like a long, windy, switchback-ey snake itself. Oh, and it goes straight up. Herod built Masada as one of his strongest defenses, and it withstood the test – but not to protect Herod. It was the last stand of the Jewish forces against Rome. It fell to Rome in 73 A.D., three years after the Temple fell in Jerusalem. Outlines of the original Roman camps surrounding it for a months-long siege are still visible to this day – the best preserved ones around. They are phenomenal. And once on the hilltop, there is time to reflect on the 900 or so people that took their own lives the night before Rome succeeded in their siege, because they chose death over slavery.



The Dead Sea is just below Masada, so naturally a relaxing float would follow the climb. We decided it feels like sitting in a vat of baby oil – and as you might guess, it’s hard to decide whether that’s a good or bad thing as you float around. But it’s quite a fascinating experience no matter how many times you’ve done it before. It is absolutely impossible to not float, because your body has more water in it than the “sea”. We also found some of the mineral mud and the pictures are available for your entertainment.



We leave Israel tomorrow night, and can only be grateful for our time here. Not just in seeing parts of this amazing Land, but also exulting in the time with Wendy and her mom. We’ve had such fun sharing life through work and play – and pastries!