The trip is getting close! It's just 15 days until we leave as I finish this.
Having been fortunate to have made several trips overseas with a few different travel companies, I'm familiar with the concept of "optional tours." These are side trips sometimes advertised ahead of departure, sometimes not, that people can take by paying additional money. However, from the perspective of the travelers, since we've already spent a great deal of hard earned cash to get to our destination, the "just a little bit more to see <insert amazing site name here>" is somewhat annoying. Whether it's just a ploy to squeeze a little more money out of folks or for a different reason, it seems a bit silly to not include the optional trips in the total when the typical cost of each is $100/person or less. Maybe these side trips don't appeal to everyone but with the exception of one optional trip I've taken, my experience has been that they've all been very good, informative, and reasonably priced.
We have three such trips to consider while we're in the Holy Land. The order they appear on our itinerary is as follows: We can see Jerusalem by Night the evening of day 6 ($15), take a day trip to Masada and the Dead Sea on day 7 ($75 including lunch), and take a trip to the Israel Museum and a Dead Sea Scrolls Tour in the evening of day 8 ($25).
In my mind, the second two are definite "must-do" trips. Masada is a three level 18-acre palace/fortress just west of the southern end of the Dead Sea that was built on a mountain top by King Herod during the 1st century BC. It is a stunning feat to consider trying to build something similar now, let alone that it's been in existence for over 2,000 years. I'm very much looking forward to seeing it. Take a look for yourself if you're not familiar with it. Here's the link for the official Israeli Masada website.
That same day we also get an opportunity to see and maybe even float in the Dead Sea. At over 1300 feet below sea level, it's the lowest place on earth. The quantity of water that evaporates from it is greater than that which flows into it and salinity levels here average eight times the salt level in the ocean. At just $75, how could you not take advantage of seeing both of those sites? Having already talked to Dad, he was very interested in going. The only thing he wasn't crazy about was floating in the Dead Sea. Since we'll be visiting in February with the average high temperature in the 60s, I'm kind of inclined to agree with him. The temperatures I've been seeing for Israel are very similar to the Phoenix area this time of year - mid to upper 30s at night rising to the mid-60s in the afternoon. The water in my pool right now is way too cold for any kind of swimming. Given the similarity in temperature, I'm not sure whether I want to float in the Dead Sea this time of year either. We'll see. At any rate, I'm not planning on missing either Masada or the Dead Sea for just $75.
The Israel Museum seems like another optional trip not to be missed. Among other items at the museum, their most famous as well as most important collection are the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea Scrolls! They're stored in the Shrine of the Book, a separate building inspired by the lids of the clay jars in which the first scrolls were found. In all, nine main scrolls, including one engraved on copper, along with bags full of small fragments were discovered. The museum possesses the most important and most complete of these ancient texts. Although part of our trip will take us to Qumran where the ancient scrolls were first discovered in 1947, I don't know how anyone could pass up seeing something this significant.
The third trip, Jerusalem by Night, is the only one that I'm just not clear what it's about. Certainly the price isn't a concern. At $15, it won't break the bank. There's just no explanation other than indicating it's an option. Since the trip is sponsored by EO, a Christian organization, I very much doubt it will feature any Jerusalem bar hopping. I did send Dad's Pastor a question via email late last week but I haven't heard back from him yet as I'm writing this post (for those new to the blog, the Pastor has been on the trip several times before and is going with the group this year as well). We'll find out soon enough.
I'm really looking forward to going. First, I get to take the trip with my Dad. I can't tell you how much that means to me. Second, what an incredible location to visit! This will be a great opportunity for both of us to see these places that have so much religious as well as historical significance.
Until next post,
Tim
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