If you missed my other trip posts, read the Day #1 recap, the Day #2 recap, the Day #3 recap, the Day #4 recap, Day #5 recap, and Day #6 recap.
Day #7 of our Epic Trip to Italy and Israel with the Museum of the Bible started out really hard for me. I was tired. I was exhausted. And I was really homesick. I do travel fairly regularly, but it’s usually only for 1-3 days at a time. The longest I’ve ever been gone was 8 days — and that was SO hard.
So I was just missing my people, missing home, and missing our quiet life. Plus, I was plain T-I-R-E-D. We had been going, going, going, going for 6 days on little sleep and I just felt so done. So ready to be home, to be with my family, to sleep in my own bed.
I honestly considered staying back at the hotel that day. But I knew we were supposed to go to the Dead Sea and I just couldn’t bear the thought of missing that.
But I’m glad I went ahead and pried myself out of bed and got out the door, because this amazing view was waiting for me!
Yes, we went to Masada — and it was amazing! We took a cable car up to the top and the view at the top was pretty breathtaking!
I snapped this picture of Claire doing some stretching and yoga poses. Is that not the perfect location for yoga??
Even though there were quite a few people there, it felt so quiet and calming and peaceful! I went to some rocks and stood on them by myself and just took it all in. It was so soul-filling for me.
I was also incredibly impressed that even though it was hot outside, the buildings built were so cool because of how they were structured.
We took the cable car down to the base of the mountain and ate lunch and did some shopping. Well, I ended up not buying anything because you had to spend $100 if you wanted to get the 18% tax taken off at the airport. And I just didn’t find anything that I loved enough to bring home.
(I also had packed in a carry-on, so I had very little space to bring extras home. But I did end up buying a few things in Nazareth Village two days late — bracelets for the kids, Israeli candy bars, and a wooden Shalom magnet for our fridge. I had hoped to find some earrings, too, but I never found a pair that I really loved. I guess I’ll just have to go back and get those next time!)
After that, we drove to THE DEAD SEA!!!
Oh my goodness! This was SUCH a highlight for me on the trip! After hearing about this sea and reading stories about it for so long, it was thrilling to actually be able to experience it.
As you might be able to tell here, getting out into the water was a bit tricky — it was muddy and slippery and rocky and you had to be so careful where you stepped so that you didn’t trip in a pothole or cut your foot on a rock (I actually ended up slicing my foot twice — ouch!)
But when we finally made it out into the deep water, it was incredible. Not only could you literally not sink, but you could stand straight upright in deep water where you couldn’t touch and try to bob yourself under and you wouldn’t be able to.
We laughed so hard as we floated all around — even while “standing straight up” in water where we couldn’t touch. We covered ourselves in the thick, rich mud… we even sort of swam.
This picture was staged, yes, but it captured so well the joy that we all were feeling out there together. It had been a long trip. We’d experienced a lot together. And the water and mud and floating just seemed to wipe all of our tiredness from the trip away.
The laughter spilled into teasing and, out there in the middle of the Dead Sea there was such a sense of camaraderie. And it was so F-U-N and beautiful to experience.
I’m SO glad that I didn’t stay back at the hotel that morning like I really wanted to. I would have missed one of the greatest days of the trip… and one of the memories that I probably will never forget for the rest of my life.
…to be continued…
Pamela Jones says
My comment didn’t post so will try again. My 6 year old daughter would like to know if you can put your face under the water in the Dead Sea? She does not think so because of the salt. Thank you,
PAM and Josslyn
Crystal Paine says
If you even get a drop of water in your eye, it burns like crazy. There was a 12-year-old girl on our trip who did just that on accident, and it was really bad.
Pamela Jones says
Thank you for the response! I will pass that along…
Keelie Reason @ LoveHopeAdventure says
I love seeing these pictures. 🙂 I’m so glad you did this.
Swapna says
Wow… That looks incredible!!
Jamie @ Medium Sized Family says
I love the fact that you all are covered with the mud from the Dead Sea. That would be one of those places that I would reluctantly shower from my skin.
Crystal Paine says
Yes! I so agree!
Jaime says
I think this is my favorite trip recap that you’ve shared!
Crystal Paine says
🙂 It was one of my favorites to write!
Susan says
Nearly two years ago I also went to Israel. It has given me new zeal in reading the Word. Interestingly enough, John MacArthur makes a note on 1 Samuel 22:4 that the stronghold mentioned in this verse may refer to Masada, the mountain fortress above the shores of the Dead Sea. This gives me a new picture of what David did to hide from Saul.
Also, if you would like earrings from Israel, go to T.J. MAXX where I purchased some AFTER I went to Israel. Much cheaper!
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for the tip on the earrings!!
Rosanna says
The Dead Sea sounds so incredible! Thanks for sharing these snippets of your trip. I feel like I can live vicariously through you. 🙂
Crystal Paine says
You’re so welcome! I’ve had so much fun sharing my trip with you all!
Annie Shindel says
I love the style of your swimsuit! Would you please share where you found it? Thank you!
Crystal Paine says
It was actually a tank top and swim shorts… I didn’t want to ruin one of my “real” swim suits. 🙂 But my favorite place to find quality, modest swim suits is from Land’s End. They usually have end of the season sales that are really good and I like to mix and match tankini pieces. The swim shorts here are from them.
Annie Shindel says
Thank you!
Amy R. says
Thanks so much for answering…as I was reading and came across your photos, I was going to ask the same question!!