June 2: Masada to Jerusalem

We got up at 4 and were on the trail at 4:30. We got up to the top in plenty of time to see the sunrise at 5:30. 

The trail had more stairs in it than I remembered - my FitBit called it 101 flights. 

At the start of the hikes, we used flashlights. 

We got there about 10 minutes before sunrise. About 20 other people made it up for sunrise too. Sam was the first one to reach the top (he ran most of the way). 

The video shows the quiet scene atop Masada, waiting for sunrise. 

Josh next to model of Herod's northern palace. 

Those are our silhouettes in the background. 

in Herod's northern palace

While the sunrise itself was not especially spectacular, doing the climb while it was cool was a great idea. 

I've been to Masada a few times, but it's always been so hot that I wanted to go back down into the shade right away. This time Cris and I walked all over. The Northern palace is the fanciest part. 

At the western side, where the Romans built the ramp, there are explanatory signs showing pictures of what the final battle would have looked like, with the towers that the Romans had built pushed up against the walls of Masada. But of course, a pitched battle is not how it ended. 

At the southern fort, you are looking across a wadi at another plateau about the same height as Masada. The Romans had encampments all around Masada, and one of them was up there. It was very strange to imagine those soldiers looking at each other across this space. 

We took this photo just as we started our descent around 7 a.m, to commemorate that the steepest stairs of the climb are the ones at the very top. 

descending Masada

Josh and Ted are on the left -- that's Sam up ahead around the corner

The valley below looks unearthly to me, like the moon. 

After we climbed Masada, we went back to the hostel and enjoyed the pool. We had the place to ourselves. We soaked, swam, cavorted, and finally we napped on the poolside chairs. 

Before we left, we checked out the visitor's center to buy some snacks. 

We liked this painting of a pitched battle between the Zealots and the Romans.

I liked the guy with a shofar in one hand and a sword in the other

 

Josh likes the Jewish warrier with the big hammer.

Around mid-day we got back in the car and drove back up to Jerusalem. We skipped the Dead Sea, since everyone has some sort of scrape or cut, and we all preferred to avoid getting the salt water in it. I'm not sure if Josh minded skipping it, but he was napping in the back seat at that point. 

We drove up to Jerusalem to the Harmony Hotel. It's on Yoel Solomon street, which is in the heart of a warren of pedestrian streets, the most famous of which is Ben Yehuda. 

We walked around a bit (to Independence Park, where Josh walked in the man-made stream),  then relaxed in the hotel. 

Once it got dark, Shabbat was over and the shops opened up. 

We got dinner at an Italian place around the corner. It was very good. Surprisingly good. 

This is Ted and Josh looking disapprovingly at me, because they think (incorrectly!) that I like the restaurants's baked ziti more than the one Ted makes

A protest went by while we were at dinner, protesting high rent prices. I think it might be the Israeli equivalent of the Occupy movement. 

Tomorrow we will tour the Old City with a guide.