The next phase of our trip consisted of everything in the south of Israel. So, after flying up from Cairo to Amman, we drove to the border crossing on the Jordan River just north of the Dead Sea and by the town of Jerico. They really aren't sure where Jesus was baptized on the river, but there are several places set up to visit where it might have happened. The event that they do know that happened just up the bank from here is when Elijah rose up into heaven in a chariot of fire.
As you can see, it is not that big or clean a river at this point. They use much of the water for date farms and other warm crops up and down the Jordan River Valley.
While in the area, we stopped by the side of the road to see the caves at Qummran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. The original one is the small triangular cave in between Natalie and my head.
Floating in the Dead Sea was fun; super buoyant and super bad tasting if you got it into your mouth. You could stand strait up in the water while not touching the bottom and still have your shoulders out of the water
The last place we visited down by the Dead Sea was Masada. It is where the Jewish rebels held out for 2 full years under a Roman siege in 70 AD. King Herod had also built a palace up there. The tall bluff has a tram going up to it now. You could climb on a narrow cliff trail called the 'snake trail' but we just took the tram.
