Dead Sea break
Many Israelis take the opportunity during the cold winter months of a trip to the Dead Sea. We went on such a trip from our synagogue (McDonald's or the New Synagogue) arranged by an elderly member in his 80's who has been doing this for the past 15 years. He is such a character and manages to obtain fantastic deals from the hotel management for this group. When we left Netanya it was raining and cold, but at the Dead Sea in only three hours by coach (including a stop) it was dry and sunny, about 5-10 degrees hotter. It was possible to walk around even at night with a thin cardigan or sweater. We stayed at a Hotel on the strip at Bokek, near the Ein Bokek spring, that supplies fresh water, and we spent a delightful 4 nights there, with unlimited food.
One of the main reasons to go, apart from the winter break, is the Dead Sea water. Although the Dead Sea itself is very cold, the Hotels have heated pools of Dead Sea water that is of course so viscous that you float in it, but being heated it is very pleasant. It is important not to splash in case you get the water in your eye, and also not to lose control since if you turn on your face it can be very nasty. I found just keeping my legs on the pool bottom was a difficult task. Although this treatment is touted as being therapeutic, I doubt myself that it has any significant effect, it just feels good and different. There are also jacuzzis to go in after the salt water dip.
You get to meet people there, and many were Arabs. I sat in a jacuzzi with some of them and found that they were Druse from a small village called Julis near Acre (Akko). One man was a huge powerful looking man and when I commented on this he said he had been in the Israeli Army. There were also a large group from the village of Kfar Kanna in Galilee, that includes Muslims and Christians. It was a typical Israeli place where you could hear Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, English and French spoken side by side.
We also went with friends on two trips to the springs along the Dead Sea coast, at Ein (pronouned Ayn) Bokek and at Ein Gedi. Both were wonderful visits that each took about an hour to climb to the water falls and back. The narrow gorge with the stream meandering down the center and profuse vegetation in the middle of the desert is very beautiful. Ein Bokek is much less developed and has fewer visitors than Ein Gedi. Also, Ein Gedi is an official Nature Reserve and has facilites such as toilets and a store. Ein Gedi has been improved in the past few years and now has many steps and railings, although I found the steps more difficult to climb than the paths and rocks. Our friends also went on a trip to nearby Masada, although we opted to have a rest day since we have been there many times before. However, our friends told us that they have made many improvements to the visitor center, etc.
Although there is not much to do at the Dead Sea, apart from visiting the three places I mentioned, there is a small commercial center at Bokek where they sell the Dead Sea products. Also, the main idea is to rest and recuperate. Now we are back I'm getting into my e-mail and returning to normality after a very pleasant winter break.
One of the main reasons to go, apart from the winter break, is the Dead Sea water. Although the Dead Sea itself is very cold, the Hotels have heated pools of Dead Sea water that is of course so viscous that you float in it, but being heated it is very pleasant. It is important not to splash in case you get the water in your eye, and also not to lose control since if you turn on your face it can be very nasty. I found just keeping my legs on the pool bottom was a difficult task. Although this treatment is touted as being therapeutic, I doubt myself that it has any significant effect, it just feels good and different. There are also jacuzzis to go in after the salt water dip.
You get to meet people there, and many were Arabs. I sat in a jacuzzi with some of them and found that they were Druse from a small village called Julis near Acre (Akko). One man was a huge powerful looking man and when I commented on this he said he had been in the Israeli Army. There were also a large group from the village of Kfar Kanna in Galilee, that includes Muslims and Christians. It was a typical Israeli place where you could hear Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, English and French spoken side by side.
We also went with friends on two trips to the springs along the Dead Sea coast, at Ein (pronouned Ayn) Bokek and at Ein Gedi. Both were wonderful visits that each took about an hour to climb to the water falls and back. The narrow gorge with the stream meandering down the center and profuse vegetation in the middle of the desert is very beautiful. Ein Bokek is much less developed and has fewer visitors than Ein Gedi. Also, Ein Gedi is an official Nature Reserve and has facilites such as toilets and a store. Ein Gedi has been improved in the past few years and now has many steps and railings, although I found the steps more difficult to climb than the paths and rocks. Our friends also went on a trip to nearby Masada, although we opted to have a rest day since we have been there many times before. However, our friends told us that they have made many improvements to the visitor center, etc.
Although there is not much to do at the Dead Sea, apart from visiting the three places I mentioned, there is a small commercial center at Bokek where they sell the Dead Sea products. Also, the main idea is to rest and recuperate. Now we are back I'm getting into my e-mail and returning to normality after a very pleasant winter break.
posted by Jack Cohen at 5:55 PM
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