| Most viewed - Israel |
1181 viewsDress-up night!
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1141 viewsMy daughter, Erica and I, arriving in Tel Aviv, Israel.
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1062 viewsThis is the entrance to the cave. There are twenty two steps leading down to the cave that held Lazarus' tomb.
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1023 viewsThis is what the stone looked like.
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88 views"Hey, lady. You want a kiss and a hug?"
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76 viewsPretty typical picture. Saw many men like this.
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72 viewsHeading home on our El Al flight.
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69 viewsI loved this bread. Broken up, it was great for scooping up the veggies and the hummus, which is a dip or spread made from cooked, smashed chickpeas.
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68 viewsThis is the little restaurant where we ate dinner before going to the airport for our flight home.
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66 viewsThis site is north of the Damascus Gate, and is believed to be Golgotha, the place of the Crucifixion.
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62 viewsWe are at the Red Sea near the city of Eilat. Eilat is Israel's southermost city and is a very busy port as well as a popular resort.
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59 viewsThis is the entrance to the tomb.
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59 viewsHe is showing us how to blow the shofar.
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54 viewsSome are "unfreakin" believable!
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52 viewsThe Via Dolorosa is the traditional pathway Jesus followed carrying the cross from Pontius Pilate's judgement hall, to Calvary where he was crucified.
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51 viewsYou never know what kind of creature could be lurking in the forest!
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49 viewsEtched into the stone is one of the games the Roman soldiers played.
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46 viewsArrived at the Dan Akkadia Hotel in Herzlyia right on the Mediterranean Sea.
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41 viewsHe is showing us how the disciples probably got their nets ready to fish.
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38 views"I'll give you a tip, lady!" If you have already looked at the Ireland pictures, you might recognize my two friends, Beverly and Harry, on the left side of the photo.
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35 viewsOur first view of the Mediterranean.
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35 viewsA refreshingly beautiful sunset.
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33 viewsAnd some are just a plain ol' challenge. First you have to squat, next you have to hold your dress/pant legs up, you need really good balance, and you hope you remembered to bring along your own toilet paper or some tissues!
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32 viewsThis is the Russian Church of St. Mary Magdalene. With it's 7 onion-shaped spires, it is a good example of an old Moscovite church style.
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32 viewsThis is the Golden Gate.
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32 viewsThis photo just cracked me up.
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30 viewsNow we are taking a walk through the Kidron Valley. The valley separates the Mt. Of Olives from the City of Jerusalem. It is said that Jesus crossed this valley many times, either going to the Temple through the Golden Gate or going up to Bethany where he would spend the night with his friend Lazarus.
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30 viewsWhile we were walking through the valley, I stopped to get a photo with one of the many camels we saw. This one was all dressed up for the tourists.
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30 viewsThis is Bet She'an. It's now a National Park and people come here to see the ancient city that was excavated a long time ago. It forms the best preserved Roman-Byzantine city in the land.
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30 viewsThe boat ride was so quiet and peaceful.
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30 viewsThere were always fun little shops around to lure the tourists.
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29 viewsOn our way, we passed THE KNESSET, the Israeli Parliament.
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28 viewsEeeeewwww! I believe I'll pass.
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28 viewsI was so happy that he stopped and let me take his picture.
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28 viewsThere were so many beautiful hills and valleys like this.
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28 views"Somebody help me.......I can't hold this up much longer!" If you notice, I used the past tense when telling about Ein Gedi. In the summer of 2005, two-thirds of the oasis burned to the ground after a tourist dropped a lit cigarette. This makes these photos all the more special to me.
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28 viewsDANG! That stuff could grow hair on your chest!
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28 viewsAs you can see, we are at Lazarus' tomb.
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28 viewsGood thing I was here to stop this sign from falling down! OK ... Not Really. Here they are.....the Walls of Jericho, all fallen down just like the Bible says.
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28 viewsAnd our guide read the paper.
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27 viewsThe Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount. I like the contrast in this photo showing the skyscrapers along with the Western Wall.
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27 viewsSome of the homes built in the side of the hills.
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27 viewsHerding up the sheep for the evening.
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27 viewsThis is in Ein Gedi. It was one of the most important reserves in Israel.
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27 viewsThis was really a beautiful hotel.
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27 viewsFor those of you who have travelled a lot, you know that you never know what kind of bathroom/toilet you might have to use. Some are acceptable like this one.
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27 viewsEntering the Garden Tomb.
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27 viewsHebron has been closed for twenty years. It opens once in awhile as a gesture of "goodwill" from those that keep it in a strangle-hold....Hezbola.
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27 viewsThe City of Jericho ... And on the 7th day of walking around the city, they blew the trumpets, and sure enough...the walls fell down.
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27 viewsThis was amazing! It's St. George Monastery, a Greek Orthodox monastery that was built in the late 5th century A.D. I can't figure out how in the world they built it.
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27 viewsThen he showed us how to cast the net into the water.
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27 viewsThe next morning we drove up to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered his "Sermon on the Mount." In this photo you see my daughter and our guide walking down the hill.
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27 viewsHere we've stopped by the Kibbutz Camel Caravan LTD to visit the camels. These guys looked a lot cleaner than some of the ones we saw.
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26 viewsAfter a night of rest, we headed to the Old City.
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26 viewsA little pose before we enter the Old City.
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26 viewsI would love to have been able to take this piece of pottery home with me
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26 viewsAn archeological dig going on.
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26 viewsAnother photo showing the skyline of Jerusalem, but this time I got the young boy heading home with his camel.
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26 viewsSame camel, except I got a little up close and personal.
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26 viewsI took a chance that they would let me have a photo taken with them. They did!
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26 viewsI felt so sorry for these little children, but I had to remind myself that they don't know any other way of life. This little girl was so sweet.
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26 viewsMama and baby.......so cute.
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26 viewsThis is NOT a happy camper!
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26 viewsThis shows the scenery as we went back down.
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26 viewsAre you SURE I can let go and the water will hold me up?
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26 viewsIT WORKS! Just like the brochure says. But...........you sure don't want to get any of the water in your eyes. Whew, it burns!
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26 viewsThis is traditionally supposed to be the birthplace of Jesus.
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26 viewsAfter we left the Church of the Nativity, we went to the Three Arches of Bethlehem, a great place to shop. We were offered a cup of "coffee." By the smell, I could tell it wasn't going to be a good cup of Folgers!
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26 viewsI wasn't going to drink it but the guy told me to "just try a little."
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26 viewsI was watching this beautiful white dove fly over everyone. It seemed so appropriate.
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26 viewsThis was taken inside the tomb looking out into the garden.
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26 viewsErica is trying out the sling shot that was like the one David used against Goliath.
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26 viewsThis lady allowed us to visit inside her home..............for $1.00. :O)
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26 viewsThere was more than one screech on the bus as our driver barreled down these roads. SCARY!
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26 viewsBecause Hebron is mostly closed to outsiders, the kids don't see too many tourists.
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26 viewsI bought this piece of pottery and actually got it home in one piece. Hebron is famous for it's pottery and they still make it the way they did in ancient times.
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26 viewsDid a little shopping and then had a really great lunch.
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26 viewsI always heard about the Israelites blowing the trumpets and having the walls fall down on the seventh day, but I will also remember it now for the absolutely delicious fruit. I know, not quite a good comparison, but I'm just sayin'................that fruit was soooo good. Better than Florida!
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26 viewsNot only can you eat it, you can wear it.
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26 viewsThis is Erica taking her first camel ride.
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26 viewsSo while we shopped and rode camels, our bus driver slept.
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26 viewsWe have come to the Kibbutz Nof Ginasor, where we will stay for several days. It's located on the Galilee shore. One of the first things we did was take this "Jesus" fishing boat for a ride along the Sea of Galilee.
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26 viewsWe went to a restaurant on the Sea of Galilee. It is tradition that you eat St. Peter's fish! The person who found a coin in theirs won a prize.
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26 viewsAnother sunset photo this time showing the bulrushes in the water.
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26 viewsI couldn't help but stop and get a photo with all the beautiful flowers around.
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26 viewsSo, lady. Was that the best kiss and hug you've ever had? Hee hee!
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26 viewsWe stopped to see the Roman aqueducts. They were the highly advanced waterway systems, considered among the greatest achievements in the ancient world.
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26 viewsOur next visit is Banias, a beautiful nature reserve. It was also the former site of Caesarea Philippi located at the foot of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights
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26 viewsHUH!
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25 viewsThis is the men's side of the Wailing Wall.
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25 viewsThis photo shows the women's side.
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25 viewsI wrote out my prayer on a piece of paper and put it in the wall.
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25 viewsI didn't mind having this photo taken at all! :O)
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25 viewsThis was my favorite photo out of all the shots I got of the Dome of the Rock.
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25 viewsOne of our next stops was the Valley of Elah. It is best known as the place where the Israelites were encamped when David fought Goliath. This is my daughter picking up some of the stones for souvenirs.
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25 viewsThese are the tents where these kids lived.
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25 viewsIT HAD TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER................Montezuma's revenge......the most common illness affecting travelers. Barfing, cramps and diarrhea! It lasts about 24 hours. Less is you're lucky. I wasn't!
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25 viewsAfter the defeat of the Israelite army of King Saul, by the Philistines on Mt. Gilboa, they took the body of King Saul and his sons and impaled them on the walls of Bet She'an. It could even have been along this colonnaded street called Palladius Street.
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25 viewsAfter a drive through the Jezreel Valley, we came to Megiddo, also know as the place of Armageddon.
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24 viewsI took this photo because it shows one of the many street and alleyways. It would be so easy to get lost.
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24 viewsMy buddy, Kristin, holding the top of the Dome of the Rock. Well, sort of.
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24 viewsLocated on the slopes of the Mount of Olives is this Jewish cemetery. It is one of the oldest and largest in the world. Friends and relatives put a stone on top of the grave when they visit.
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24 viewsNot everyone was happy to have their photo taken.
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24 viewsI still have the stones I picked up here.
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24 viewsThe next day we headed south to the Negev, which is the desert region of Israel. After a very long drive, we arrived at the Mitzpeh Ramon Crater. It is the world's largest crater and is shaped like an elongated heart. Today the crater and surrounding area form Israel's largest national park.
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24 viewsNow we are in the Negev Bedouin area. They are defined as Arab nomads who live by rearing livestock in the deserts of southern Israel.
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24 viewsAfter wading around in the Red Sea for awhile, it was time to go to lunch. I'm thinking Erica wishes she was at McDonalds!
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24 viewsWhen you are there, the guide takes you around and shows you where everything was and how it worked. You can see that this was the area of the bakery. So fascinating.
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24 viewsThis shows some of the old Roman technology. Amazing.
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24 viewsWe have left Masada and are heading over to the Dead Sea to take a swim. This should be fun.
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24 viewsWow...........it sure is cold!
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24 viewsA closer view of one of the caves.
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24 viewsI loved all of the plants in the middle part of the hotel.
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24 viewsThis is in the Upper Room.
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24 viewsThis is the Church of Gethsemane.
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24 viewsJesus was lowered through this hole, into a cave, to await His trial. It felt sad in there.
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24 viewsThese are the original stones along the Via Dolorosa.
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24 viewsAfter that bus ride, we all needed to get out and stretch and relax.
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24 viewsAnother photo op at the security check point.
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24 viewsWe got back to the Kibbutz just in time to see a beautiful sunset.
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24 viewsAhhhhh, that's very nice. Thank you.
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24 viewsSTOP! I get it already!
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24 viewsKristin and I standing in front of Pan's Cave, also called the Devil's Cave.
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23 viewsTwo young Israeli boys walking past the Wailing Wall.
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23 viewsWe got to walk through this man-made tunnel that goes under the Wailing Wall. We had a couple of people who were claustrophobic and they had a rough time getting through.
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23 viewsThis is another one of my favorite photos. It's so how I pictured Israel looking, except for the roads!
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23 viewsThree of the Bedouin children.
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23 viewsThis is at King Solomon's Mines, an impressive set of high sandstone hills. It contains one of the most ancient copper mines. And believe you me, it was a tough hike getting up here.
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23 viewsThat's Erica way up there with her arms up. You can see how hard it must have been to climb.
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23 viewsThis is a photo I took, and the following year, Dr. Coke, our tour director, used it on the front of his Israel tour brochure. So I'm bragging already! :O)
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23 viewsIt's unbelievable that this is all salt.
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23 viewsThis is Mt. Sodom, a hill along the southwestern part of the Dead Sea. What is remarkable about it, is that it is almost entirely made of salt. Yup.....it's salty! This is where the Biblical event of Sodom and Gomorrah supposedly happened, and one of the pillars on the hill is actually named "Lot's Wife."
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23 viewsThis is Masada, an ancient mountaintop fortress which was first known for the palaces and fortifications of Herod the Great. Later it was the site of the most dramatic and symbolic act in Jewish history, where the Zealots, anti-Roman rebels, chose mass suicide rather than submit to Roman capture.
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23 viewsWhew...........made it!
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23 viewsThere were even remnants of an old Byzantine church which dated back to the 5th and 6th centuries.
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23 viewsIf you felt adventurous, you could climb to the top by this old Roman ramp.
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23 viewsThese are the Qumran caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.
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23 viewsIt was a wonderful sanctuary for many types of plant, bird and animal species.
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23 viewsHey....thanks for posing.
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23 viewsThis is my daughter entering into the church.
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23 viewsShe is standing under a beautiful piece of mosaic.
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23 viewsLooking up at the Golden Gate.
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23 viewsThe Garden of Gethsemane
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23 viewsThe kids were really cute and seemed happy to see us.
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23 viewsAh, geesh! Here we go again!
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23 viewsAfter that mountainous scary drive, we finally arrived in Jericho. After a fast and very needed bathroom trip, they gave us this absolutely delicious glass of fresh orange juice. It was the best orange juice I have ever had.
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23 viewsIt was so fascinating to walk among all these ruins. This is another one of those places I wish I could have seen as it was in the beginning.
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23 viewsAn earthquake destroyed the city in the 8th century.
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23 viewsHe was giving us a great lesson in how to mold and make the earthenware.
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23 viewsSomebody did a very good job of eating their fish! :O)
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23 viewsConfucius say, "He who dumb enough to back into cactus going to have very sore bum!"
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23 viewsThis what the manger actually looked like.
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23 viewsThis is the beautiful city of Haifa.
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23 viewsWe're just "hangin" out in Haifa.
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23 viewsWell, the tour is over and we have one day left to rest and relax before we head back to the good ol' US of A.
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23 viewsWe arrived in Joppa just in time to get some beautiful sunset pictures.
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22 viewsWe have arrived at the Dead Sea and you can see the mounds of salt. Can you see where the salt pile ends and the water begins?
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22 viewsAs you could see by the previous picture, you went to the top by cable car. It was just a tad scary!
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22 viewsIf you notice, I took this photo from the side! I didn't think it would be so smart to try to get him from the front. I might have gotten a real good head butt.
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22 viewsAfter a great dinner, and an even better night's sleep, we headed out to Bethlehem the next morning. This is the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world.
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22 viewsHis tomb.
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22 viewsThis shows the pathway for the stone to be rolled back and forth.
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22 viewsThanks to the "pull" from our director, Dr. Coke, we were able to go to the city of Hebron. It's the largest city in the West Bank.
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22 viewsAccording to Biblical prophecy, this is where the end of the age and the return of Christ will happen.
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21 viewsOne of the many markets inside the city walls.
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21 viewsAs you can see by the sign, we are on our way back to Jerusalem.
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20 viewsHaving a little fun with my buddy, Kristin, as we arrive at our hotel.
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20 viewsInstead of eating dinner at the hotel, we took a taxi and went over to the Tel Aviv Hard Rock Cafe for a big, juicy hamburger.
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19 viewsUm, okay.....that's good. You can stop now.
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18 viewsThe garden was so quiet and peaceful.
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18 viewsTaking one last walk along the beach.
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17 viewsIt was a Sunday and there was a lot of activity going on.. These guys were fun to watch.
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