6:30 p.m. Finally, we’re at our hotel for the night. I don’t remember the weird name right now [Metzoke Dragot], but the view outside our room is a stunning look down to the Dead Sea.
The first thing that thrilled us today was our breakfast -- Cookie Crisp cereal. Imagine 17 college students scrambling for kids’ cereal.
From the hotel we went to Masada, which was really cool. We rode up and down on cable cars, and spent 2 hours walking around. It was HOT! We went down to the two lower levels of Herod’s palace, and we saw some cool mosaics in the baths. There was also a Roman-style bath with a frigidarium, tepidarium, etc.
After Masada, we ate lunch at a tourist-trap type of place. We were laughing about some of the stuff they sold, but then I found the mother of all junk – for 10 shekels, a bag of Jerusalem AIR. I kid you not.
Next we visited the synagogue at En Gedi. It was pretty neat, with a big, nifty mosaic floor, some of it in Hebrew.
After that, THE CLIMB. Where Mt. Sinai was tiring, En Gedi was HOT. I literally thought I would pass out, which was a new and scary feeling for me. But I tried to remember the wise words of good old Jane – "Run mad as often as you choose, but do not faint." At any rate, when I reached the top, they poured water on my head and put a wet washcloth on my neck. I was looking rough. I stuck my tongue out, posed for everyone to take a mock "propaganda picture." Dr. B. takes those and says stuff like, "Okay, look victorious," "Look like you’re filled with awe," etc.
Then we went to the oasis at the top. The others had their bathing suits on already because of the Dead Sea later, so they went in. The rest of us stood around watching. Eventually, Will convinced me to let him fill my hat with water, then put it on my head. So there I was, sopping wet anyway . . . I said, "What the heck" and tromped in without even taking off my shoes. Everyone busted out laughing. Dr. B. yelled, "Do that again!" and I did it while he ran the video camera.
We saw a kind of dull Calcolithic temple up there, but mostly used the cliff to pose for pictures. The guys got on a big rock and Dr. B told them to "do something GQ." I asked him to pose like Indiana Jones, but instead he did a funny Egyptian thing.
We climbed down the cliff to see a gorgeous waterfall, then headed for our swim in the Dead Sea. First of all, let me say that in this country, neither age nor fat (nor both) can hinder one from wearing a bikini or a Speedo.
The Dead Sea was weird, like trying to swim on a waterbed. Will and I went out pretty far. We all got some of the black mud and smeared it all over ourselves. I got some salt water in my eyes, and it burned like fire.
The hotel here is rustic, but nice. When I began this entry, I was sitting outside. The guys next door – Kyle, Adam, and David – were singing "You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling." It was really funny.
Well, time for supper!