Day 7 – Wednesday, August 10: Early Morning Optional Hike up Masada, Dead Sea, Ein Gedi, Judean Desert, Mt. of Olives, Western Wall
Today was another great day as we transitioned from the hot Judean Desert to the much cooler city of Jerusalem! Temps throughout the day were about 100 again until we enjoyed 80s in Jerusalem this afternoon.
Masada
The day began early at 5 a.m. for those who hiked Masada. Our goal was to see the sunrise from this stand-alone mountain build as a palace-fortress by Herod the Great. The sunrise was spectacular! We all then hiked back down the same way (the Snake Path) to get cleaned up and for breakfast. Then at 8:30 we all returned to the top (via the cable car) for a visit of the site. We saw the southern casemate wall, the western and northern palaces, the Roman ramp, the synagogue, the bathhouse, and the storehouses.
En Gedi
About 20 minutes north is En Gedi. This was and still is an oasis in the Judean Desert. We read from Song of Songs 1, 2 Chronicles 20, and 1 Samuel 24 (David hid here from Saul) before we all hiked back into the canyon (Wadi David). We so much enjoyed getting wet in a couple of the water falls. It’s incredible the amount of water that flows here, even on a hot August day!
“Today we went from the hot Judean Desert to the cooler air of Jerusalem! To start the day, the sunrise at Masada was incredible. To end the day seeing the Western Wall at night was special!”
Jerusalem / Mt. of Olives
From here we drove north to Jericho and then took the road that ascends to Jerusalem. Our destination was the Mt. of Olives. What an amazing view of the Old City and the Temple Mount from here. We read from Luke 19 (Palm Sunday), Luke 22 (Gethesemane), Acts 1 (ascension), and Zechariah 14 (Christ’s return). We walked down the slope to meet David and the bus.
Old City/Western Wall
On the way to our hotel (St. Andrew’s Scottish Guest House), we made a brief stop at an olive wood store. After checking in to the hotel, we met together to walk into the Old City. After grabbing dinner in the Jewish Quarter, we continued to the Western Wall. We walked back to our hotel through the Zion’s Gate and then across the Hinnom Valley. It was a long but another great day! We are looking forward to our first full day in Jerusalem tomorrow.
Day 8 – Thursday, August 11: Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum & Memorial, City of David, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Southern Wall Excavations
