Palm Springs - Living Desert

This morning we drove out to the Living Desert for some cactus / zoo / playground fun with Kylie! She got her first allowance, spent it on a dinosaur toy and a lollypop, and immediately started crying, "I want my money back!" as soon as we got out of the gift shop. Lesson learned?

 It's STILL Christmas!

 Ocotillo sunrise

 Hola pueblo amigos!

 A fierce ride!

Morning in the desert

 I'm poky, prickly and have two arms...

I'm a cactus!

 Twisty cactus

 Hello spiky friend

 Cactus path

Desert familia

 Chunky saguaro

 Desert beauty

 Hummingbird

 Lil' drummer

Up giraffe-o-scope!

Goodbye giraffe!

Masada

After the Dead Sea we headed a little further south to the ruins at Masada.  Masada is a city built on a high plateau where rebel Jewish forces held off the Romans for as long as they could...and then they all killed themselves rather than fall.  It is not an uplifting tale on its surface, but the story resonates with Israelis today, and it is a highly visited place as people keep the memory of the rebellion alive.

Here we go!

Masada is just atop that plateau.

We elected to ride the 3 minute cable car to the top.

Babes concurs that this was a wise decision.

Everyone was very happy not to be walking up this "Snake Path".  It was at least 95 degrees out.  This would be brutal!

View from the top, across the Judean desert.

The ruins against the Dead Sea.  Very striking.

Cheese!  Here I am wearing a hat.  It was good for keeping my from getting sunburned, but was really hot and kept flying off.  I think the search of the perfect hat will continue...

Ruins and the summer sky.

This was the Roman camp below.

All of the colors of the desert blend together.  It can be hard to tell ruin from rock!

Eric enjoying the view!

The harsh desert-scape.

A door through the ruined wall.

Remnants of a Byzantine church.

Mosaic designs.

 The Byzantine church mosaic floor.

 

One last look from the top.

The Dead Sea...

Today, during our last weekend here in Israel, we checked out the Dead Sea.  We got up early, all piled in the car and headed out on an adventure!

Livestock grazing a hill in the Judean Desert.

A landscape of the desert, so stark!

Here we are at sea level, about to head down.

Me and the babe.  Cheese!

We've finally arrived at mineral beach.

 

The facilities included for the 300 shekel entrance.  (Psst, that's pretty expensive.)

Word to the wise...

Here I am, floating in the Dead Sea.  I wonder if that's what it feels like to be in space...

Eric and Kylie enjoying the day!

A look into the water...seems like any other water...

Salt build up.  Wowza!

 Here's Eric, floating away!

The Judean Desert, looming overhead.

A look across the water at Jordan.  Hi Jordanians!

The Dead Sea shoreline.

One last look into the desert.  What a day!