A real highlight for us was travelling down the Dead Sea to Eilat.  We stayed at a hotel at Ein Gedi, which had a spa on the Dead Sea where we swam or rather floated in the water and then went in the hot sulphur baths.

 

Passing sea level on the road from Jerusalem.  The Dead Sea is at

416 metres below sea level

 

 

Looking across the Dead Sea to Jordan

 

 

Wadi David near Ein Gedi

 

 

The gardens of our hotel at Ein Gedi

 

 

Lots of antelope, desert foxes and hyrax (looks like a giant hamster)

 

 

Masada, a hilltop fortress and palace built by King Herod.  Occupied by the Maccabees

during a rebellion against the Romans.  After a 2 year siege, the Romans stormed in to find

all the rebels (200+) had committed suicide except for 2 women and 4 children

 

 

On the plateau of Masada

 

 

The remains of King Herod's palace

 

 

A model of the palace

 

 

The Romans built a ramp from the valley to the top of the plateau (nearly 400

vertical metres), the remains of which are in the centre of the photo

 

 

Floating in the Dead Sea.  On the raft are fresh water taps to wash your

face and eyes if you got splashed with any of the sea water...it burns

your eyes.

 

 

Salt and minarels caking the shore...rock hard

 

 

Taking the mud bath experience.