october 2010

Another foray into the Mideast, but this time to the other side of the Dead Sea. Flying into Tel Aviv, I didn't know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised at how the palm trees and laid-back vibe reminded me of the west coast or even a subdued Miami. I had some of the best hummus ever here. We rented a car and drove cross country to Jerusalem first, and then to the Dead Sea. Jerusalem is similar to other ancient walled cities of yore, except of course, that it also hosts some of the most significant religious structures in the world. To see all three faiths converge into a space barely larger than a 1/2 mile is fascinating. On the east coast of Israel, we rose early to do the sunrise hike at Masada, an ancient fortress in the desert. We ended the day floating on our stomachs in the Dead Sea, looking off into the horizon to see if we could see the spot we last swam on the opposite coast.