As part of my tour of Israel we visited the Dead Sea the lowest place on Earth, its surface and shores are 423 metres below sea level, Earth’s lowest elevation on land… and it is everything that you have read about and seen on TV. IT IS VERY HOT! 40c when were stopped the car to go bathing. It is very large although not as large as 10 years ago as it is being drained by industrial processes for its mineral content, the bank showing ‘contour’ lines where it has dropped in level, with one ‘coastal’ town now almost a kilometer from the edge of the water! Prior to bathing Ofer invited us to smear ourselves with the Black Dead Sea Mud Black mud found along the shoreline is also rich in minerals and is often used in skin treatments although it did not reduce my tummy cellulite.

After the Dead Sea we made our way to a Bedouin Camp for an over night stay and meal around the fire. The camp was in The Negev, which extends over Israel’s southern region and accounts for over half of Israel’s land area. Due to its desert character, however, this region is sparsely populated.

The next day we visited Beit-Govrin Caves, located deep in the Negev Desert in Israel lies the dwellings of an ancient people who once populated the inhospitable locale. Approximately 6500 years ago the Negev received more rainfall than it does today making it more fertile and livable. In 1977 Shiqmim was discovered by a group of archaeologists revealing large underground tunnel systems and dwellings we took a look around these and they were quite amazing. BIG chambers, small tunnels and whole living areas built underground.