Day Seven (Wednesday): Masada, The Dead Sea, And Driving To The Sea of Galilee

We headed first to Masada--an ancient fortress/palace on the tops of a hill top of sorts.  There have been movies made of events that may have happened here, but much of that might just be legends.  It is an interesting site because of the amount of restoration that has been done and what it tells us about life during the early centuries. Again, if you want to know more--google it!

You take a gondola up and then walk these modern boardwalks into the site itself.

Across many of the walls and floors, you will see this black line.  Below it indicates original work still in place.  Above the lines are areas which have been reconstructed to match the original design often with blocks and rocks found on site.

Fencing on the site keeps people safe and out of areas not yet studied.

Here a student is recreating a floor pattern by carefully replacing small tiles into the pattern--a job I would not have the patience to do.

That is the Dead Sea in the horizon.

It is hard to get a good perceptive of the site, but look on google for that as well.  

It was a genius place to build a stronghold and had some very interesting ways of gathering and storing water on a basically barren hill top.

Before going to the Dead Sea, we stopped at a small museum near where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  They were found in the late 1940s.  They contained a wealth of scriptures including the complete text of the Book of Isaiah.  I believe it is some of the oldest manuscripts related to the scriptures ever found.

It is so interesting what is still be found in digs throughout the world.  We live in such an interesting place which has been filled with interesting people doing interesting things for thousands and thousands of years!  Who knows what might be found next week or next year!

To the Dead Sea---The Dead Sea is at 1412 feet below sea level which makes it the lowest sea on earth. it is at 27% salt level (that varies according to the source of information) but makes it one of the saltiest bodies of water on earth.  The Great Salt Lake is about 13%.  It is noticeable harder to get your feet under you after floating on the surface.  It tasted terrible!!

It was a bit of a process to get changed into swimming suits, walk down--wear water shoes for sure--through the mud and down many many stairs to the beach, but we did it and so did Sister Winn who is 80 years old.  Her daughter was so determined that Sister Winn was going to float in the Dead Sea that she bought her a $120.00 for the adventure.  So Sister Winn felt committed to the process and she did it!

Every good tourist spot needs a camel ride

Heading through the swimmers to get to the beach

Gary and Jena off to check the waters while I guarded our stuff

I am AT the DEAD SEA!!!!

Jena floating

Sister Winn--

Linda, Sister Winn, and Mindy, a woman on our tour who became friends with Sister Winn.  Sister Winn got to know almost everyone!

Landi in the mud

Shar and Linda--the mud is suppose to be good for your skin because of all of the minerals.

Fun times.  Then it was the process in reverse--up the many stairs, using the crowded showers with no way to keep your dry clothes dry and back on the bus for our next adventures.

This was actually a photo of our first views of the Dead Sea heading to Masada in the morning.

Heading north from the Dead Sea through the west bank to the Sea of Galilee.  We saw a number of camels along the way but I couldn't ever get my camera out in time to get a picture.  Mostly in the West bank, things were fairly drab and not much farming or other industries were going on.

View from our hotel on the south end of the Sea of Galilee Wednesday night.

Our home away from home for two nights......

A real and hot shower felt great.  I couldn't believe it was already Wednesday!! Going home in four more days!

Day Six (Tuesday)- Walking In Jesus's Footsteps

Tuesday started back in the Old City where we visited some of the (possible) sites that Jesus visited during the last days of his life.  Again, these are traditional sites, but they serve to remind you of those holy events and also to get an idea of his movements in and out of the city.

The Upper Room--

Before we entered into the actual room/Church of the Last Supper, we stopped in a court yard and learned a bit about the Passover.  The Jews were celebrating the Passover during the week that Christ was to become the ultimate and last sacrifice for all of mankind.

Valerie got to help with some of the Passover instruction.

One of the things that I remember is that in the Passover, they used water/wine and then a bread to remember.  When Christ passed the sacrament at the Last Supper, he switched that traditional order to bread and then wine/water.

We walked along the narrow streets into the Church of the Last Supper

The "Upper" Room

After leaving the Upper Room, we then boarded the bus to the Mt. of Olives--literally a small hill to the east of the Old City of Jerusalem.

We drove up the back side of the Mt. of Olives and then walked down a long, long staircase...

until we stopped and read the account of the Savior as he prayed on the Mt. of Olives.  For many years, Elder Rona said that they were able to go onto an empty old garden on the Mount and sit in the trees and read.  But the possession of that piece of land had changed and the owners did not allow tourists on the property any longer.  Most of the Mt. is covered in housing and businesses.  So we sat on our chairs on the side of the sidewalk and listened.

Views looking toward the city over the fenced field/garden--

A look back up at the stairway on the mount...

This is the front of the Church of All Nations which is supposedly located next to the Garden of Gethsemane and where Jesus prayed before he was arrested.  We did not go in here.  We couldn't do everything, of course, and we had already had our own quiet time to remember the events which took place somewhere on the Mt. of Olives.  Google Church of All Nations to learn more about the history of this site.

The thing I liked most about this place was that I loved that it is in line with the temple mount.  Today you can see the Dome of the Rock which wasn't there in Jesus's time because the temple was standing there.  I could imagine Christ looking in that direction for strength much like the temples can bring strength to us.  

We left the Mount of Olives and proceeded to Caiaphas, the high priest's home.  This site has had several items which confirm that it was the possible home of Caiaphas in the right time period.

View back to the Mt. of Olives where they arrested Christ.....

A church built on the site.....

Down in the lower areas of the site including a dungeon room where people would be tied up and whipped.

Stairs on the site dated around the time of Christ

Christ then was taken before Pontius Pilate because the Jewish leaders did not have the power or the right to condemn someone to death which is what they wanted for Jesus.  After being sentenced, Jesus had to walk through the city of Jerusalem to the other side.

Although because of Christian art work, most of us picture the cross on a hill. It is more likely that the crosses for Christ and the other two men were placed along the main road outside of the city wall to the west.  This appears to have been the site for many crucifixions by the Romans who loved to make public displays of those they had condemned for treason or other crimes against the Romans.  The location is overlooked by Skull Hill or Golgotha.

We then went to the Garden Tomb site more favored by members of our Church rather than the site at the Holy Sephulchre Church which is located inside the city wall.

As opposed to the other major sites, this one is run by a non-profit organization rather than a church or churches.  It is much quieter and set up for groups to gather in outdoor areas separate from each other.  As you walked the grounds, you could hear people singing or praising God in many languages and in many different ways than we are used to.  I loved that. People worshipping makes a place a holy ground.  (I know I said that before, but I felt it here as I listened to people singing.)

There is a view area at the edge of this property to see the "Place of the Skull."  I didn't get a great picture from my angle but this is the area possibly referred to in the scriptures.

A group before us entering into the Garden Tomb---

The side view of the doorway

Inside the garden tomb

It was an odd but actually wonderful time to travel to the Holy Land so soon after the death of our dad.  At the Garden Tomb, I really wanted to gather with Valerie and Rick and share a moment together. I don't know if this is the ACTUAL spot or not--but I do testify that Christ was buried somewhere and on the third day he arose from the grave and stands on the right hand of God today in directing His Church.  The actual places do not matter but the knowledge of the resurrection is everything during times of sorrow and loss.

We had some singers of our own--Shar, Linda, another tour member, and Valerie sang several sacrament songs during our private time in the Garden Tomb area.  Those familiar hymns fit perfect for me.

Gary and Jena enjoying some moments together as well.

And then home again we went, tired but spiritually fed again.