Dead Sea at Ein Gedi
Just after New Years 2001, Marthame, my mom, and I made a trip to the Dead Sea at Ein Gedi. We took far more pictures than we could put online, but here are a few that can give you an idea of how beautiful the spot is.
As the sun rose over the Dead Sea, I was struck by its glassiness.
It was in these hills overlooking the sea that the members of the Qumran community (apparently all men) wrote and preserved the Dead Sea Scrolls, which we had just recently seen at the Shrine of the Book.
I was struck by the interesting salt formations along the beach of the Dead Sea.
Then we headed to Ein Gedi nature reserve, where freshwater flows to the Dead Sea. We saw lots of oryx (this one seemed happy to eat grass at the field station and have its portrait taken).
Hardened salt along the rocky beaches.
We also saw hyrax scuttling in the bamboo along the river.
We hiked up a canyon, following the water up, up, and up.
It was surreal to see this really lush, verdant little crease in the land, with waterfalls.
Then there were the lovely little snails.
It doesn’t get more lush than moss.
Somehow, Marthame was not quite as excited as I was by the poo - evidence of exciting fauna. But I haven't yet found a "Scat of the Holy Land" guide, so I'm still at a loss as to what critter left it.
Yet all the time, we were surrounded by barren brown hills.
Delicate plant life.
Tiny buds.