A day of water, relaxation & FUN.

We arrived in Ein Gedi at about 1PM & checked into our hostel (which is AMAZING)… here’s the view from our balcony:

And to Emma’s delight, there is a local kitty who likes having her belly rubbed.

Our drive here was good, the scenery stark & beautiful.  We are in the desert…

and we’re right by the Dead Sea!

We went straight to Ein Gedi Reserve (National Park?)  which is in walking distance of our room – and  WOW… it was really beautiful.  Full of beautiful waterfalls, shallow pools, rocks, vegetation and Israeli critters.

 

It was a happy place, full of laughter & delighted squeals.  People with many different languages all enjoying this place and communicating, “will you take this picture of us?”  well enough for it to happen and return the favor.  We enjoyed cooling off in the water …

& were equally impressed with the views of the Dead Sea.

We then headed to a Dead Sea beach.  Unfortunately, the beach that is the hostel’s isn’t open, but we drove south & found a public one with showers… no mud – (maybe tomorrow) BUT I have to say that swimming in the Dead Sea was one of the craziest experiences I’ve had.  You absolutely can’t sink.  We “stood” in water that was really deep & our chests were above the surface.  I sat on Chris to see if I could sink him… NOPE.  I pushed on his shoulders with all I had… No, again.  We ‘water jogged’ & lost our balance with our feet popping up from under us & we felt like corks on the surface.  The water was harsh on all the little cuts we didn’t know we had and stung our lips.  But, oh, it was worth it.

We had dinner at a place in a little mall & then drove back to the room & are about to pass out from enthusiastic exhaustion.  Happy Day.

Massada in the morning, maybe explore David’s caves in the afternoon (where he hid from King Saul) & then on to our Bedouin tent for the night.

Shalom, Y’all.