Swimming in the Dead Sea in Style – Tips for a Dead Sea Visit

I share my experiences swimming in the Dead Sea in both Jordan and Israel and share tips for the best Dead Sea experience.

You’ve probably seen the photos – the ones of a person effortlessly floating in an almost sitting position while reading a newspaper. This is often the typical marketing image associated with the Dead Sea. The reality is that swimming in the Dead Sea is so much more than that.

Continue reading “Swimming in the Dead Sea in Style – Tips for a Dead Sea Visit”

Tips for an Independent 10 Day Israel and Jordan Itinerary

I planned our 10 day Israel and Jordan itinerary around my most important criteria: spending two days in Petra. A visit to the Petra Archeological site was high on my travel bucket list and I wanted to have plenty of time to take in this ancient wonder.

A ten day trip to Jordan and Israel was definitely not going to be enough time to see all that these two history rich countries had to offer, but that was all the time we had. So I prioritized what I wanted to see and built my itinerary around this, adding in time to get from one place to another.

Continue reading “Tips for an Independent 10 Day Israel and Jordan Itinerary”

A Day Trip from Tel Aviv – Take a Tour to Masada and the Dead Sea

I am sharing my experiences of a day trip from Tel Aviv to Masada and the Dead Sea.

Besides  the day that we spent in Jerusalem, the other sights I was especially interested in seeing on the few days we had in Israel were the historic UNESCO listed site of Masada along with the Dead Sea. After doing some research, I decided that a day trip from Tel Aviv was the most efficient way to experience these two locations on the same excursion.

Continue reading “A Day Trip from Tel Aviv – Take a Tour to Masada and the Dead Sea”

One Day in Jerusalem: Where Three Religions Intersect

Even with just one day in Jerusalem, I was able to see a majority of the historic sights.

On our recent trip to Israel and Jordan, a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of Old Jerusalem was a high priority. Our schedule allowed for only one day in Jerusalem, but we managed to make the most of our time as we discovered why this city is such a historic location for three of the world’s biggest religions.

Continue reading “One Day in Jerusalem: Where Three Religions Intersect”

PhotoPOSTcard: The Two Faces of Faith

Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre is an important religious site for the Christian faith. Tradition holds that the church is built over the site where Jesus was crucified and then buried. There are many chapels and items of religious significance in this church. Here, I was struck by the contrast of pilgrims prostrating themselves over the Stone of Anointing where it is believed that Jesus’ body was prepared for burial, and the Christian orthodox nun standing behind them, looking at her cell phone.

Thanks for visiting.

Rose

Tips For Visiting the Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount in Jerusalem

I am sharing my tips for visiting the Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount after my recent trip to Jerusalem so that your visit to this beautiful sight is as easy and memorable as mine was.

Seeing the UNESCO Heritage listed Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is at the top of many visitor’s wish list, and it was on mine also. In fact, on my recent trip to Jerusalem, I visited the Dome of the Rock twice so that I could get all the photos I wanted.

Continue reading “Tips For Visiting the Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount in Jerusalem”

PhotoPOSTcard: All That Glitters is Gold at Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock

Jerusalem’s Temple Mount and the rock on top of it is a sacred site to both the Jewish and Islamic faiths. In Judaism, the rock is where Abraham was preparing to sacrifice his son Isaac. For Muslims it is the location from which Muhammed started his journey to heaven. The octagonal Dome of the Rock which sits atop this Foundation Stone was built in 691 CE, though it has been rebuilt a few times since then. Visitors can tour the outside of the Dome of the Rock during non-Muslim prayer times, but cannot go inside unless they are Muslim. Even just seeing the outside, it was a beautiful structure to visit.

Thanks for visiting.

Rose