From Bermondsey to Bethlehem

Pictured in Bethlehem, near the Church of the Nativity, the group from Bermondsey, joining 32 other pilgrims on a trip in the Holy Land entitled 'Israel: Land of the Bible.'

Today we headed out of Jerusalem to Masada and the Dead Sea. Very quickly we were travelling through the desert wilderness, with its stunningly beautiful mountain scenery, along with Bedouin encampments by the roadside, mountain goats and camels - all just a few miles outside of Jerusalem.

Masada

We descended to the Dead Sea, the lowest point of earth, and travelled to the mountain top fortress of Masada where Jewish zealots were besieged by the Roman Army, and many took their own lives rather than be sold into slavery.

We ascended to Masada by cable car and the views were spectacular.

Back down on the ground we drove back along the Dead Sea shore to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 and, after lunch to a Dead Sea beach resort where sundry intrepid members of the party floated in the famously salt laden waters of the Dead Sea (really an inland lake).

Dead Sea

By now it was 44C and the sun was blazing down. Our Jewish guide observed 'mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun' and shaking her head in wonder said 'who else would do this?'

From there we drove further into the Judean wilderness, to see the remote monastery of Wadi Kelt nestling among the rocks, and to sing and reflect of the time Jesus spent there being tempted by Satan, but ministered to by angels.