Happy Hanukkah!

Today is the last night of Hanukkah! I have really enjoyed celebrating Hanukkah. I had no idea that eating doughnuts every evening was part of the holiday! It's a been a delicious last few days. Unfortunately I got a little carried away today and have heartburn... Tonight we went to the Western Wall where they have a huge Hanukkah menorah that they light with huge flames. And then they sing all sorts of fun Jewish songs! I had a great time.

On Monday I got to finally float in the Dead Sea! And even though I had seen pictures I didn't completely beleive that you floated in the Dead Sea. But it's true! YOU FLOAT! It's the strangest, most unnatural feeling. I've always wanted to swim in jello and I kind of think swimming in the Dead Sea is what it would feel like.The consistency is so strange... and you just sit on top! It's so salty. If you even tough your finger to your tongue, it burns. And I got a little up my nose and it burned for a good while afterward. I also covered my body with the dead sea mud that is supposed to be so exfoliating... it's what the masks and lotions are made of at the mall that the Indian people try to sell for way too much money. But since the dead sea is so low there isn't any good mud.. so the mud was made out of the shower run off and the dirt above the bank. And it kind of smelt like feces.

Also on Monday we visited Qumran. That's where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. It was really interesting. Then we went to Masada. Which wouldn't have meant anything a couple of months ago but after all our studies it was incredible. Certainly one of my favorite places we've visited.  I also enjoyed the sky ride up to it! We took a big ski lift type ride. It's really high up and we opted to not hike the "serpent's trail" up the steep hill.

We also visited Ein Gedi which is just a beuatiful canyon of the Dead Sea. We hike up it and a pretty little stream runs along it with several waterfalls! The weather has barely cooled down and so there were lots of wildlife! I saw Ibex's for the first time! It's kind of like a deer. I though they were really cute! They jump really high. I saw so many of them.