Masada...

Thought I would finally get around to sharing some of my photos from my trip to Masada.  The geology and hydrology of Masada is almost as impressive as the history of the events that have transpired in this seemingly desolate place.  Upon arrival all guests are required to view a weirdly dubbed (and very nationalistic) video about the Roman siege of Masada during the first century A.D. and the subsequent mass suicide of the Jewish rebels occupying the fortress.   After the video, which lasted about ten minutes, we exited to the platform to catch the cable car ride to the top of the cliff.  I had hoped to hike up the cliff on foot, but time constraint was binding, which prevented anyone from attempting.

A nice shot of the cliffs behind Masada. The ruins in the middle left of the photo are the Roman fortifications left by the Legions almost 2000 years ago.

Some of the ruins on Masada itself...and a bird...

  A nice shot of some of the geology of the plains below the cliff (shot from the Northern Palace):

The sun was blazing hot all day.  Fortunately, I had purchased a Jordanian Keffiyeh at the Souk in Jerusalem the day before.  I soaked my Keffiyeh with roughly a liter and a half of water, which helped fend off the sun.  A very practical piece of kit, this Keffiyeh.

In hindsight I feel like my photos do not do a good job of capturing the immensity of Masada.  I will have to ask around to see if any of my colleagues took better photos...