Day Two
5:00 pm
First things first, the sun was out today and it was hot! Not hot hot, but the sun was strong. Worry not, I had on my sun screen so my skin is fine.
I had breakfast in the hotel dining room. I made the decision that I would not eat the “safe” food, (when in Israel…), instead; I ate smoked salmon, some other fish that we think was herring, some unnamed cheese, a bun bread situation and a glass of juice (don’t ask me what fruit it came from). I topped it all off with a hot cup of Turkish coffee and chocolate with milk. mmmm, mmmm, goodJ
We had a short worship service that included Communion and then we were off.
Today was one archeological site after another, as my pictures will reflect. I have seen more rocks than I ever wanted to see. Lisa, you will be glad to see that I actually took pictures of the different types of rocks just for you! We stayed in the Negev and explored the largest city in this southern part of Israel. We visited Mamshit (pronounced mam-sheet), the nature reserve at Maktesh Ramon and Tel Bersheva where we saw Abraham’s well and the national park.
Bedouins
On our way into the Negev we passed by several Bedouin “villages.”
As the picture can attest, the living conditions that they live in are very poor. Our guide, Samir, told us that the State was attempting to build better houses but that the older Bedouins prefer to continue their Nomadic lifestyle that has survived for millennia. Abraham was a Bedouin! You cannot see it here but not much farther down the road, maybe a mile or so, there is an Israelite settlement named Yeroham. Needless to say, the difference between the two was like night and day. I am still trying to figure out how I feel about it. I mean, if they want to hold on to their nomadic lifestyle, who am I to say that they should not be able to? But at the same time, the disparity in living conditions is very troubling to me.
The Yeroham settlement
See what I mean? Not very cool.
Mamshit (pronounce it "Mam-sheet" please)
Mamshit is about 4.5 miles east of Dimona and it is on one of the important branches of the Incense Route.
Mamshit is a permanent settlement was first established during the middle Nabatean period, in the mid-first century CE, on the top of a hill. (Needless to say, I had yet another hill to walk up today! Israel is VERY hilly. I did not know that.) I have to get into shape to make this trip truly FUN. But I must say that usually when I get to the top of a hill, it was worth it. This was another case where it was sooo worth it to walk up all of the steps. When we got to the top we were able to see the Eastern Church which was equipped with the coolest baptismal chamber, mosaic floors and an apse with three rows of benches for the clergy.
We also saw the Market which was a street from the days of the Nabateans and the Nabatu house. It was the largest house found in the city, about 6500 square feet (large even by today's standards). It contained interior courtyards and staircases that led to a second story. A hoard of 10,800 silver coins was found in the house, dating from 75 to 200 CE. I know that this may not seem extraordinary for some, and many of you don't even care but it blows my mind. I am adding a video taken at the Nabatean village.
Maktesh Ramon (all about the rocks!)
Hanging over the edge! Almost a thousand foot drop.
Lisa this section is for you. Have a scientific day! The Makhtesh Ramon is at the center of two large nature reserves and is the larget makhtesh (crater). The crater is almost 25 miles long and 5 miles across. The Ramon Ridge is part of the national watershed. More than 90 percent of the area of the ridge drains directly into the Dead Sea, the remaining area drains into the Mediterranean. It boasts unusual natural phenomena that are rarely seen elsewhere in Israel like volcanic and magmatic phenomena, fossils, and ancient rock formations that were created 220 million years ago!
Semaj, Meredith and Danny stood too close to the edge and was scaring everyone to death. But we all made it back safely.
Tel Ber Sheeva
It's getting late, 11:25 pm, so I am going to have to finish this on the morrow. I will get to it later than sooner because we have a busy day which will include a trip to Jericho and a dip in the Dead Sea! Take a look at the pictures below, they tell the story.