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Published: September 22nd 2008
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Middle East Ted
Ted in the West Bank Steven
Its s if all tourist have been sent to Israel to get in the way and make their day a drudge! I have yet to see such poor attitudes to service anywhere. The few exceptions are refreshing and generally either Beta Israel (Ethiopian) or Somali staff who work in many of the hotels and tourist sites.
Still the experience of seeing a country with such history is worth it. We finished our last full day in Jerusalem by attending a Sabbath dinner at the hotel - a very diverse and interesting experience - left Jerusalem in the morning after getting the Avis mechanic to recharge the battery that was totally dead (I think I left the interior map light on the day before). The drive out of Jerusalem was much better as most Israelis were not on the road because of the sabbath (yes I am a heathen!). We went into the West Bank to drive to Masada in southern Israel - I was not certan about doing this but everyone assured me it was perfectly safe. All those news reports about Israeli road blocks and checkpoints impeding the movement of Palasitians in the West Bank seem to
Real dessert
Desert - in West Bank be rehashed film from earlier times. We only passed one on the whole trip (200 km) as we went through to the west then south along the Dead Sea.
On the way we saw real dessert, camels and passed near Jericho (where the walls came tumbling down after Josua fought the battle of fame). Then down into the Dead Sea Valley where we desended to below sea level (see photos). Half was we stopped at Qumran (the caves where they found the Dead Sea Scrolls so had to stop and explore - Almaz will be so envious!!!
On to Ein Bokek where we were to stay in a Spa Resort and after 3 room changes they finally gave up on giving us what I booked and gave us a room on the Regency floor (an upgrade and dinner on the hotel). The resort is OK but the food is very poor - buffet style but fairly well massed produced. The next day we went to the Dead Sea beach at the hotel and tried the high salt water - absolutely weird experience - you cannot sink and bounce and bob around like a piece of cork. They say
its thearapeautic but who knows. Many people were also covering themselves with Dead Sea mud - black! Beza hit the Heath Club after that for a long massage and facial. Otherwise rest of the day was relaxing and doing absolutely nothing = great.
This morning we went to Masada, a 2000 year plus fortress in the middle of the dessert, very strategic in its day they say and was the site of the last resistance by the Jewish people aginst Roman rule and was site of King Herod's palace. Took the 10th Roman Legon over a year to finally breach the walls with a very large gravel ramp up the wall (cliff face). You may have seen the epic fim of the same name. When the Romans finally entered Massada they found the occupants had all killed themselves rather than being taken captive (and the women being raped etc). Amazing to see the are so well preserved and the artifacts they found (even a pay slip from one of the Roman soldiers!). Again Almas will be envious . Masada is 500 feet above the Dead Sea but fortunaly we had the use of a cable car to get to
Jerecho
Where Joshua fought the balle and the walls came tumbling down the top.
Tomorrow we are off to Tel Aviv for our very late flight to Addis Ababa. We drop one very large suitcase off at the hotel we will stay at on our way back. May stop off at Beersheba on the way - this is a site where Australian troops fought during the war.
Will catch up again soon with our next posting when we are in Ethiopia. Beza will now add her bit and interpretation.......
Beza
Steven's loving it here, and I'm going along for the ride...
The service here is strange and the people are very intimidating and they sure do like to give back handed compliments.
So basically I just feel like I'm getting in their way.
Floating in the dead sea was surreal becasue it's not often you have to force your body not to float.
Masada was an expiercience that I'm glad I had, and I'm sure it will be something I brag about later on in life...or now.
It was hot buit
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Kyanne
Kyanne Smith
Hope you're travelling well
Hi travellers! Thought I would say a quick hello and say that your trip is sounding very exciting. Israel looks rather hot from the photos - hope you've arrived safely at your next destination. Look forward to some more photos. Kyanne