Masada

Sunrise from Masada with the Dead Sea in the foreground

You can either hike or take a cable car to get to the top of Masada.  Not only do we like a good hike, but we also like a good sunrise, which meant that we opted for a 4:00 a.m. pick-up so that we could drive south to Masada and hike to the top before the 6:00 a.m. sunrise.  Was it worth it?  I think so!

Ruins at Masada

The 2,000 year old ruins of Masada sit atop a plateau in southern Israel overlooking the Dead Sea.  After the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, Masada (about 60 miles south) was the last Jewish Zealot stronghold.  After a long siege by the Romans, the Jewish inhabitants realized they couldn't overpower the Romans.  Rather than surrender, all of the inhabitants committed mass suicide.

Ruins at Masada

We were so close to the Dead Sea that it made sense to make one more stop, this time on the Israel side!  It was just as much fun the second time.

The Dead Sea on the Israel side

~Sara