THE DEAD SEA, JERUSALEM, BETHLEHEM

We had planned to visit Israel for a long time and when the opportunity finally came up, we took a chance right away. Our next destination – The Holy land…

We stayed in Taba in Egypt and also started our trip from here. Just a short ride by bus and we reached the border between Egypt and Israel. After a really detailed border check with answering hundreds of pointless questions, we finally entered Israeli territory. Just a quick change of the bus and once we got on we fell asleep again. We woke up to the rising sun above the Dead Sea and the view was really amazing.

The world-famous Dead Sea is the lowest based lake on Earth and also the saltiest. The water is 9x as salty as other seas and flows over here from the river Jordan and creating the natural border between Jordan and Israel. Thanks to its salinity it’s almost impossible to drown in it. You can literally lie on the surface and you’ll be floating like a cork. You can easily read the newspapers during floating which I didn’t believe until I tried it. You should be, however, careful especially when moving in and out of the water not to splash the saltwater in the eyes. After you get out of the water don’t forget to take a shower in nearby showers on the beach because the high salt content will leave a thin layer of salt on your skin.

Very known is the healing mud found here for its benefits on the human body. If you will be able to choose I recommend you visit the Dead Sea on your return journey. Usually, you get there in the evening and the water is much warmer than early in the morning. After this refreshing morning bath, we boarded the bus and continued toward the capital of Israel – Jerusalem.

Our next stop was the Wailing Wall or even called Western Wall. It is the only remaining part of the Jewish temple after it was destroyed by the Romans. The wall is divided into 2 parts for men and women and is the most sacred place on earth for Jews. People insert leaflets and papers with their wishes and prayers between the bricks. The site is also open to all religions but if you come here on Saturday when Jews celebrate the Sabbath photography is forbidden.

From the Wailing Wall, we gradually went down along the wall of Jerusalem which dates from the 16th century. Parts of the original Roman buildings are in a preserved condition and Roman Gate can be seen at today’s Damascus Gate. It is one of the 8 gateways leading to Old Jerusalem. Only 7 gates are open because the Golden Gate is regularly closed. This is because it leads to the Temple Mount and is accessible only to Muslims. This was the last stop of our tour in Jerusalem and after the arrival of the bus, we continued towards the next city – Bethlehem.

It’s just about 7 km from Jerusalem to Bethlehem so the journey did not last long but the road goes along the walls and fences that separate Israel from Palestine. This infinite territorial dispute is also displayed on them with various meaningful paintings and drawings. Bethlehem lies on the western bank of the Jordan River in the autonomous territories of Palestine and is known as the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The most important monument is the Church of the Nativity which is one of the oldest ecclesiastical sanctuaries in the world. It was built in 326 above the cave where Jesus was born. It is a frequently visited place, especially during the Christmas period but it is certainly worth a visit.

Bethlehem was our last stop in Israel and charged us with positive spiritual energy. Then we headed back to Taba in Egypt where our trip began.

Israel belongs among the most visited countries in the world mainly because of the city of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Both cities have enormous religious significance. You will find beautiful architecture, rich history, and a lot of positive energy that radiates from them. It is said that everyone no matter the religion should visit this country at least once in a lifetime. After our experience, we just have to strongly agree with this statement.

Tip 1: Arrange with your tour guide to visit the Dead Sea on your return journey from Jerusalem. The water is much warmer in the evening.

Tip 2: In Jerusalem take a tour with all important stops including the Old City, the Calvary, the Wailing Wall, and Jerusalem walls.

Tip 3: In Bethlehem try to visit the Church of the Nativity early in the morning to avoid the crowds later on during the day.

Total costs:  7 nights All Inclusive (Flight + Accommodation + Meals):  £600.00 

(Prices as of March 2012)

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