Blogs from Masada, South District, Israel, Middle East - page 3

Today was a blast! We started by going to Massada, the ancient Jewish stronghold on top of a large desert mountain. Unfortunately, it was very hot and dry (around 100 degrees), so took the cable car instead of walking up the steep trail. We were all surprised to see such a large settlement on top. King Herod had built a winter palace up there 2000 years ago. But it became famous for the Jews lived there 100 years later after they fled the Romans in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, the Romans chased them and spent 3 years building a ramp and finally succeeded only to find the Jews had committed suicide rather than becoming slaves. We then took a small hike in Ein Gedi, a small settlement on the edge of the Dead Sea. The hot sun was ... read more

url='/Videos/3065.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3065.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'Teddybear Roll!!! Masada & The Dead Sea The work week here in Israel starts on Sunday, but Guy had taken an extra day off to spend time with us. Early wake-ups still not being one of our favourites, so Guy had to drag us out of bed, again hehe... It was a couple of hours drive to Masada, situated at the bottom part of the Dead Sea. The story Masada tells is about fleeing Jews who captured Masada, a stronghold built on a free-standing plateau high above the Dead Sea. Around 1000 people lived here and resisted the Romans. Finally the Romans figured out a way to take over stronghold. By building a big ramp all the way up to the plateau (!). Seeing the end was near, the jews who didn't want to ... read more

The Rock of the Middle East. 2000 or so years ago a group of people fled to the desert rock of Masada, to get away from the Romans. The Roman emperor who built it as his leisure time palace made sure the supplies were filled in the event of an attack, and the little group managed to hold out for quite a while. Eventually the outcome was inevitable, and when the Romans finally managed to conquer the place, they found only dead bodies, all of them with the throat cut open. This is history in its true meaning. Some people make the trail all the way up there by foot, just like they had to do 2000 years ago. The cable car ride up there is magnificent. At the time when the palace was in use ... read more