So, some friends and I decided that it would be cool to go out on a camping trip. A couple guys had planned a place to camp out and had organized the details so everything worked out nicely. So on friday after class we headed out for En Gedi and the dead sea. From JUC it was about a 45 minute hike to the bus station. Now, Friday was Yom Kippur, a Jewish Holiday, so the streets were crazy. We were walking fast trying to catch our bus weaving through crazy crowds, it was a crazy experience. When we got to the bus station I felt like I was at the airport, it was cool. We had to go through security, and there were signs showing the bus departure time and which gate to go to. Anyways, after just over 2 hours on the bus we arrived.
The beach at En Gedi was, well...there was no beach but there was a sandy or rocky camping area. The dead sea was 200 feet from where we were camping it was kinda surreal. After setting up camp we went for a swim or a "float". The water was shallow for the first 5 to 6 feet then there was a drop off. At the drop off we turned to face the shore and leaned back...and we were floating....it was so crazy! With no effort you floated feeling like you were on the clouds, but you look down and all you can see is deep water...so weird. We tried all these different positions we stood up and floated, we laid on our chest, and our back, it was cool. Now I have to say right now I had been warned that farting was unpleasent while floating, but I did anyways...not on purpose. Needless to say, my mother was right again..I regretted it.
That night was probably the best night I've had in Jerusalem. It was really warm I had my shirt off all night and it felt great. The night was a constant temperature of about 30 degress, it felt good. We met 3 guys from Israel there and they gave us stew (which was incrdible), tea, and we talked all night. It was so fun.
The next day was hiking day and it was the most beautiful place I have ever been. We hiked along a high mountain desert ridge and then entered a forest area into an oasis with waterfalls, and cold pools, green trees. The hiking day was great. We got back home Saturday night, and crashed since we were all exhausted.
This weekend coming up we have our first 3 day field study and we are going back to the dead sea, but also to Masada and around the area. Anyways, time to study hebrew so until next time.