Christmas Tree

 No more real Christmas tree for me this year.  On impulse, I bought a fake one at Home Depot at 6am on Black Friday.  I realized getting a real tree is too pricey and the needles are a mess.  I think I got a good deal, the kids love it!  We just put it up tonight!

Day 8, Masada and Dead Sea

 Day 8-  We hiked up Masada the great fortress on the top of the mountain. A few of the group decided to climb it and we made it in about an hour. Then we had a tour of the ruins on the top. We also had lunch and stopped at a resort along the Dead Sea and got a chance to float in the water. The bottom was very hard for feet as it had salt deposits everywhere. After floating in the Dead Sea and feeling very oily, we jumped into the pool to cool off. Then we headed to and Getty where we were going to hike to a waterfall but there was a threat of flash floods so we took the bus to an Overlook to see the waterfall instead. Here is a picture as well of Ariel are Israeli guide with Michael he has done a great job with the two of them showing us around Israel. Lastly we got a chance to ride on a camel, look at the teeth of that Camel. Yes the camel was in the desert at a gas station near Jericho. I love the beauty of the desert Wilderness areas of Israel along the Dead Sea, you can see the Moab mountains of Jordan across the sea.

Day 7 Old City

Day 7- We hiked into the old city and went around the Jerusalem Jewish quarter and then we took a tour of the Western Wall underground tunnel. We went up to see the Western Wall and then went through the tunnel area Underground. We then went on the ramparts walk some of the old city and went through some of the shops.

 Day 6, we went in the morning to tell Lachish in the southern portion of Israel, known as the Shefala. We walked around and hiked up the tell and then we headed to Jerusalem and spent the afternoon in the Israel Museum. We got to see the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as some other ancient artifacts. Michael led the tour and was like a kid in a candy shop. Beheaded back and went through some of the old city on our own. On my morning run I found the spot where we love to look out on the old city as well as the fountain that Jeremiah used to Splash in all the time when we were here last. I also have a picture with Susanna with a Magnum Bar as those are Our favorite.

Day 5

 Day 5, we started our Day visiting Christ Church in The Old City. It was amazing to worship with other believers around the world. We then went to the Mount of Olives and saw the view of the city as well as went to the Garden of Gethsemane. We also visited the old city of David and some went through Hezekiah tunnel and some of us went through a dry tunnel which was an old Canaanite tunnel.

Day 4

We drive down to Jerusalem today, stopping at En Harrod, a spring, then we traveled to Bet Shean and then went to Qumran where the Dead Sea scrolls were found.  We took a little hike to a cave.  On the way back, Michael took us to the Judean wilderness and a little monastery tucked away, St Georges, beautiful.