Day 8 – Sunday 30th March

Floating on the Dead Sea

This morning we stopped at Gideon's Spring, as recorded in Judges 7. God used Gideon and 300 men to save Israel from the Midianites. The spring plays a pertinent role in choosing which men were to accompany Gideon.

Beit Shean is an ancient town which has been excavated to show the Roman streets, etc. We spent a fair while here wandering around. Glenn climbed to the top of the Tel, but neither Ginny nor I were inclined to expend so much energy on a hot day. Jane had explained at Megiddo that a Tel is a man-made mountain. When a town has been established on a site, subsequent towns are built on top of it. Over the centuries these towns upon towns form a mountain.

We were told to pack an overnight bag as we would only be staying one night at the Dead Sea, and the large bags would be left on the bus. A swimsuit was a must. I think I bought my last swimsuit ten or more years ago, and until a 40C day this summer when I swam in Ginny's pool, I don't remember the last time I wore it. I had the opportunity to pay nearly $300 for a new one in a boutique in Pakington Street, but declined on the grounds that it wouldn't get that much wear. I got one on sale for $70 and considered it to be a bargain!

At our hotel in the Dead Sea, we changed into our bathers [that's a foreign word to Americans] and caught the golf-buggy to the shore with Sylvia and Gregg, two women from the States. This was a really amazing experience, and you really do float! We were warned not to put our faces in the water. Water in the eyes needs to be washed out, or it will sting. If you swallow it, you need medical assistance!