June 20
We drove South today to the Dead Sea stopping along the way to visit the caves of Maresha, about 50 miles south of Tel Aviv. A city from the 4th century BC, its residents excavated caves to produce limestone for construction, and then created an intricate network of tunnels to connect the caves so they could be used as workshops, storage chambers and reservoirs. It is a truly fascinating labyrinth of underground spaces to explore where ancient times can be felt and experienced in a very direct way.
After the most delicious lunch of grilled meats an d salads at a nearby Moshav (a kind of Kibbutz) called Segula, we drove through the rocky desert dotted with Arab towns on the way to visit the Dead Sea which is the lowest point on earth, 400 meters below sea level. The Sea, as most people know, is so dense with salt and minerals and magnesium that it is impossible to drown in it. You float to the surface like you are sitting in an armchair reading the newspaper. Truly magical place but especially hot in the summer as the air gets caught in this crater below sea level and there is no breeze. There is a strange stillness and tranquility there and it is a geological phenomenon and an important destination for its natural springs healing properties. Definitely worth the visit.
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