Land of Milk and Honey

An e-Postcard here from the Holy Land. Half-way between the Dead and Red Seas you get back to sea level in the middle of the Negev. Hot as a demon's backside, but pretty impressive scenery.We had various 'family' events associated with Bruce's son's Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem (reason for the trip) and saw things the tour-bound tourist never sees. Also an amazing hike in the Golan Hts, clambering over rocks in a gorge and swimming forest pools. Met Bruce again this morning at 5am for a climb up to the Massada fortress at the Dead Sea in the Negev wastes. Caught the sunrise over the ramparts. Awesome in every respect.Since Jerusalem (total surprise for me: beautiful and interesting, lively town), we have stayed in Tiberias and Haifa up North, then the Dead Sea (briney muck) with today the dawn climb at Massada. Now in Eilat for the final days on the beach. Saturday we do a day-trip to Petra in Jordan.