Masada

View from Masada of the Dead Sea

After witnessing the most magical sunrise while half way up Masada, we stopped to do Shacharit and to eat breakfast.  We went up by way of the "runners path".  I assumed that it would be much more difficult then the "snake path" claims to be. Although, we went up by route of the "runners path" we went down on the "snake path".  Now that I think about it, I'm glad that we went up by the "runners path" because the other path didn't have as great a view as we did from the route we were on. 

We stayed at youth hostels close by in Ein Gedi and woke up at 4'oclock that morning to make our way to Masada. When we first started walking it was pitch black out. Once we got to the steep parts of the mountain the sun began to rise.  By the time we got to the base of Masada it was 5.  We got half way up Masada at around 6:30 to eat breakfast and to do shacharit.  It was a beautiful view of the sunrise. 

Our group participating in teffilah and the sunrise in the background 

The views along the path were absolutely gorgeous. At some points during the hike, I had to physically stop in order to take it all on. With the rocky path beneath my feet and the expanse of the mountain ahead and all around me, I felt so little. So incredibly tiny. 

Our whole group I'm front of the stunning view on top of Masada

While on Masada we learned all about Herod the great who built Masada and the Zealots who got there after the destruction of the Temple.

Once I reached the bottom, my legs were trembling like jelly. Finally reaching the bottom of the mountain was an incredible experience that I'm having a hard time putting into words. So far it has been one of the greatest accomishments of my life in Israel. I felt like I had just crossed the finish line of some important race. 

My Israel Core Course teacher in one of the places we went into at Masada

View of the mountains 

We then went for lunch at the Ein Gedi Spa. Once we were finished we went to put on mud. It felt so good. We all went in full mode and splurged mud all over our bathing suits. Most people went by tractor from the spa to the Dead Sea, but I stayed behind to enjoy the view from the outdoor spa (I've been before and it hasn't reacted very well to my skin At all). 

I had a great time though!!  

Afterwards, we headed back onto the bus for the drive back to Jerusalem. Everyone agreed that it was a very long but exciting day!  We all went to bed extremely early after waking up at four that morning. 

A random movie character sculpture at the Ein Gedi resort. 

~~~~~pictures are coming of the mud and the Dead Sea~~~~~~~~~~~~~|