My apologies – it has been non-stop action ever since I set foot on Israeli soil. The decision has generally been to sleep whenever I had a chance, including sometimes nodding off when somebody was trying to have a conversation with me… usually on a bus or in a car. Shocking, but yes, I have been that tired on a regular basis. This past week was some work and much play as we visited Jaffa, the dead sea and Jerusalem. And on the week-end (which here occurs from Friday to Saturday) there was a whirlwind tour of Cesarea, Jaifa, Carmel mountains, and Jerusalem again. Surprisingly no issues getting into the country – but I understand that leaving is not so straightforward, we shall see. I am on a hummous high these days – and probably have hummous and pita bread twice a day. I have also learned how to correctly say hummous – which is hard to demonstrate with writing — My Hebrew it turns out is very limited — though our guide did teach me to say ‘balagan’ (not sure of the spelling) but it means ‘big mess’ … And he uses that to describe Jerusalem – which is essentially the meeting place of every religion in the world (except perhaps the Scientologists — surprisingly I don’t think they have a temple in Jerusalem). They divided up the church of the Holy Sepulchre between four different groups – and I can’t tell you who the four are (see I’m fading already) – but anyway – they each get to have a chapel or two representing their community.

Our guide is amazing – we had him for the work adventures and those of that stayed extra days we booked him twice — his name is Danny the Digger – he’s an archeologist by trade who fell in love with being a tour guide — get this, his cell phone ringtone is the Indiana Jones theme song – he has the correct Indiana hat and satchel. I told him we needed to purchase a whip and he’d be all set. Guess who walked around Israel humming the Indiana Jones movie theme song…. yes, perhaps not appropriate when viewing holy places.

But I get ahead of myself – before Jerusalem there was the Dead Sea — which was the weirdest body of water I’ve ever swam in…. Actually, you can’t really swim in the Dead Sea – because you are so buoyant you just bob like a cork — I finally understand what it feels like to be a fish bobber — you have to try hard to stand. Not only is the water ridiculously warm – must have been 85 or 90 degrees – but it’s so salty and oily you feel like your skin is being coated. The bottom is huge salt crystals — I almost scooped some up to take back with me. Before my dip in the Dead Sea I had a spa appointment where they slathered hot mud from said sea all over me and wrapped me up in plastic and heated blankets. Because apparently I was not quite warm enough in the sweltering temperatures of the Israeli desert in July! So – that was interesting … I’m not entirely convinced that I came out of that with baby soft skin.

Hmmmm what else is fun to do in the desert in July – I know, how about climb Masada at 4:30am in time to catch the sunrise! YES! And though I am being a bit sarcastic about this – once I pulled myself up to the top – it was quite fantastic. And at least I did not have to run up with my pack and machine gun like some of the Israeli soldiers we saw (who I swear are not much older than 12). Strangely I did feel nautious and over heated once I reached the top even though the sun was not yet out (very toasty in the desert). Masada is awesome – there are great examples of Roman palaces and fortresses still intact, including some walls with existing paint and plaster. And of course the story is epic – with a few hundred Jews holding out for several years before taking their own lives rather than fall under Roman rule.
Ok – I’m going to have to sign off here for the moment — the chanting and singing has started again (at 11pm). Yes, my hotel seems to have really vocal groups of people who do their vocalizing in the atrium area …. so that all the rooms can enjoy their social events.