Yesterday, after our fantastic hike and tour of Masada, we departed for our next stop of the day - the Ein Gedi waterfalls. Located west of the Dead Sea, close to Masada and the caves of Qumran, Ein Gedi contains a natural oasis, cave, and spring system - as well as a series of waterfalls and pools cascading from the high mountains above. It is a spectacular place - especially when you consider the surrounding desert conditions. Everyone who passes through the region inevitably stops at Ein Gedi - even if only just for a moment.
From the bus we hiked to the upper waterfall and pool. After our earlier hike at Masada, this one was pretty much a literal "walk in the park". That being said, it was still pretty hot, so some folks definitely took this as an opportunity to gripe. Once everyone was sitting in the cool water all the cares floated away. As we walked back down the trail to the parking lot, our guide mentioned the cultural and religious significance of the site. Apparently, Ein Gedi is mentioned several times in biblical writings. For example, it is featured prominently in the Song of Songs and also in Samuel - where David hides from Saul in the caves of Ein Gedi.
After departing the waterfalls, we traveled further up the coast to Mineral Beach - a small resort and spa along the shores of the Dead Sea. Heading straight to the beach, we jumped into the water. Since the water has such a high concentration of salt, you float right to the top. It's a very strange sensation, to say the least. The water also has a very smooth feel to it - almost like an oil - but not quite. Apparently, you can stay in the water for hours and hours, without ever getting wrinkled skin. Up on the beach was a small area to apply mud - which we each quickly caked all over ourselves. So much fun!
From the beach area, we all casually moved up to the on-site sulfur hot springs. Topping out at about 110 degrees Fahrenheit, this pool was a welcome third natural treatment after the waters of the Dead Sea and the full body mud applications. To be sure, it was absurdly hot outside, but believe it or not, these pools felt fantastic. Altogether, this was a great way to spend our final afternoon of the trip together. Tonight we are in Tel Aviv and tomorrow everyone says goodbye for the final time before going our separate ways. Without a doubt, it has been a good run this summer, but it had to end sooner or later. C'est la vie!
On Tuesday morning the team left Mitzpe Ramon for the drive north to Masada and the Dead Sea. Our first stop of the day was Avdat, the well preserved ruins of an ancient Nabatean city. Altogether, Avdat covers a wide area and includes a huge series of buildings - surrounded by an enormous rock wall. It is hard to believe that anyone would choose to live out in this hot and desolate area - especially in an era before A/C. To combat these difficulties, the ingenious Nabateans created unique water tech and other innovations.
"The team exploring the ruins of the Avdat site"
Photo by Kristin Thompson "Our museum guide explaining the history behind some old aircraft"
Photo by Christopher Rajashekar
Following this visit, we traveled to the Israeli Air Force Museum at Hatzerim Airbase. Over the next two hours we toured the site, looking at a whole variety of combat aircraft spanning the entire period of Israeli history from independence to the current day. This visit was of keen interest to a few of the plane junkies on our trip (i.e. Don Mayer and Sean Luke). Honestly, Don and Sean were like kids in a candy store. That being said, I think everyone thought it was a cool museum - though a bit heavy handed at times with patriotic vitriol.
"Don's camel - up close and personal"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
After another hour on the road we arrived at our home for the night - a Bedouin camp in the desert - with Masada in the distant background. Our first activity upon arrival was a 20 minute camel ride. Believe it or not, camels are not as smelly or ill tempered as they are often portrayed. It was not the most comfortable ride, but no one had any real complaints. After the ride, we were welcomed in a traditional Bedouin ceremony. Our host provided us with fresh bread, tea and bitter coffee - as well as music.
"Our Bedouin host - fire roasting some coffee beans"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
In the evening we went to a laser light and music show at Masada. The show was short, but interesting. Upon returning to the Bedouin camp, we had time for some nargila around the fire before retiring to our tent. Many of us had camped numerous times in our lives. That being said, this was probably the least comfortable night of the trip. It was hot and loud. Plus, the camp was overrun by a particularly virulent plague upon the land - not locusts - actually much worse than locusts - Birthrighters. Sadly, not the first time we'd seen them this summer. Ugh.
On Saturday, the team awoke early again for another hike, this time to the Red Canyon. For Chris and I, this day was an opportunity to travel to Jordan and see Petra - which is about a three hour journey from Eilat. Quite a few members of the group will be traveling on to Jordan after then trip concludes later this week, but since I don't have that option I took advantage of the chance. I'll cover this trip in a later post. Anyway, back to the main group.
"The team explores the Red Canyon"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
The Red Canyon is a gorgeous narrow passageway carved into the desert mountains not far from Eilat. Unlike the hike the previous day, this trek (at least according to the group) was much more relaxed, and also significantly cooler, since a lot of it is in the shade. After a little over an hour, the team had made it through and were back on the road to the hotel in Eilat. Following breakfast, the team had some time for the pool and then headed to a beach area for snorkeling by the coral reef - very near to where I'd scuba dived the day before.
"Gil climbs up from the canyon floor"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
In the evening, many in the group got ready for some late night partying in Eilat. The party started early in the hotel and then migrated out into the city - eventually to the Three Monkeys Pub - a real staple of the Eilat scene. Gil and I both called it a night early (before everyone left the hotel) since we wanted to get up early for some more scuba before leaving Eilat the next afternoon. It's a good thing we did - since people didn't make it back to the hotel until almost four in the morning. What a night they had! "Anne leads the group in the Wakka Wakka dance"
Photo by Brad Husser
Bright and early on Sunday morning, I returned for two final dives at Marina Divers. Both dives were wreck dives - the first to a small pleasure yacht and the second to the missile boat I'd already seen on Friday. At one point in the dive we saw an octopus (we'd seen him previously) which was pretty cool! I returned to the hotel after diving where the rest of the group was ready to go. Once we'd all gotten our stuff together and checked out of the hotel, we departed for Eilat's underwater observatory and aquarium. They had some really interesting sea life, including sea turtles and sharks, as well as tons of cool fish. "Anne and Sean look on in awe at some very cool jelly fish"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
Eilat was a great place to see at the end of the trip. It was hot, but very chill, and some of the sights we experienced were definitely one of a kind. With the trip now quickly wrapping up - we have only a few days left. We're now heading back to the north with stops at the Ramon Crater, Masada, and the Dead Sea, before one final night in Tel Aviv.
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