The Dead Sea is a spectacular view and quite a natural phenomenon!
Day 14 of Andy’s month-long ‘Spiritual Journey to Israel & Palestine’ was my first venture driving the rental car into Palestine, into the West Bank. The car rental contract said ‘NO’ but my Google search said ‘YES.’ My heart and soul said ‘YES’ too as I wanted to experience as much of Palestine as I possibly could.
So today was a road trip to the east from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, then South to follow it to its southern tip, and then west to Be’er Sheva on the map and north home to Jerusalem. Hopefully a day trip. First stop on the Dead Sea was Kaila Beach, Jerusalem’s closest beach on the Dead Sea. Pretty quiet, only one tour bus and apparently little biblical significance so onward to the south I went.
I am fascinated by the palm tree forests. As beautiful as the pine tree forests back home at Chenango Valley State Park where the trees were planted on 3-foot centers back in the Civilian Conservation Corps days of the Great Depression. Evidently the palm trees are the date producing kind and people eat a lot of dates in this part of the world.
Soon after I come to Qumran National Park. If I am in the West Bank whose national park is it? Israel has an amazing network of national parks and this looks to be another one in the series. Qumran is home to the latest Dead Sea Scrolls discovery in 1947 by Bedouin shepherds. I am not sure if this place is of biblical importance but its historical and archaeological aspects are definitely of significance!
My Spiritual Home on Earth—the Scribes’ Room—at Qumran!
The ancient Yahad Community is my kind of people—writers—and were interested in and were pursuing spiritual purification! There was a Scribes Room. Sounded like they just copied the books of the Bible yet created and wrote about their own way of life. The archaeological site is amazing. I wonder what happened to these guys so I bought the two historical books for further investigation.
Down the mountain I went and took a right at the Dead Sea to continue the day trip south!
Next up was the Dead Sea itself! And more date palm tree forest farms! The Route 90 road took me up the side of a parallel mountain range. With the elevation the views of the Dead Sea were breath-taking!
Masada was the ancient civilization that lived atop the mountain on the right!
I was waved through a checkpoint I am not sure why? Maybe an apparent American driving a well designated rental car?
Next up was Masada, another of King Herod’s palace hideaways back in the day before Jesus changed the world. No time for a visit. Only time for a drive up to the base building for pictures of the view. I could only imagine the view from the top of the mountain. I must come back(and I did)!
A few modern conveniences amidst Antiquity!
Famished, it was time for a late lunch in the Petra Shopping Mall in Ein Bokek, the lowest point on Earth. Isn’t all of the Dead Sea itself the lowest point on Earth? This was to be the only place in all of Israel and PaIestine that I paid two shekels to use the bathroom. Correction, once on the Eilat Promenade but we have not there yet.
Then I found one of my favorites in Israel—Aroma’s Café. The other two are CafeCafe and Landwers!
Beware of Camels near the Road!
After lunch I ventured to see the Dead Sea up close and personal in the southern beach section of Ein Bokek (where I would return later to swim, I mean float, in the Dead Sea). By the look, colors, and serenity of the water one can tell they are near the southern end of the Dead Sea of which there is no outlet. Just evaporation, hopefully some rain water and a rising salt content of about 34%.
From Wikipedia—“Most oceanic salt is approximately 85% sodium chloride (the same salt as table salt) while Dead Sea salt is only 30.5% of this, with the remainder composed of other dried minerals and salts.” Hence the claims of being awesome for your skin, health and general well-being!
Camels and Shepherds too!
It was time to head west. Go up in the mountains young man towards Be’er Sheva. You will not be getting home by dark my friend but still stop for pictures of the beautiful views from above!
Tel Be’er Sheva National Park—stop by and I will be back! Bet Guvrin National Park—I peeked into your bat caves and took lots of pics and sadly will not be back for now. Onward to Jerusalem and my Airbnb bed!
In retrospect I do not think I left Israeli-controlled area so I do not think I officially entered the West Bank of Palestine.
It was a grand day! A cursory look at the Dead Sea with a determination to be back for further exploration, a float. and hopefully more spiritual purification!
(Andy Reistetter; Updated Facebook Post with 39 Pics; 1-16-19)
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