Day 6b - Masada

Masada was the table-top hill fortress built by Herod the Great. This was that Herod who had killed all the baby boys in Jerusalem. He built this back-up headquarters right in the middle of the desert in case the Jews revolted and tried to kill him.

The Entrance
There are two ways up to the mountain-top fortress: 1) by lift
View from the lift
Or by the stairs, in the scorching hot, shade-less desert
View from near the top...
Inside the ruins of the fortress. There are actually trees here. Well.. one.
The Northern Palace, eh? I didn't take pictures of it, but *thankfully* there is a modern WC up here :)

Vertigo anyone?
Imagine if your summer job was building railings for Masada!
Finally! Some color :)
About half of our group... Dr. Moskala, Marvin, Abelardo, Andrea, me, Tim, Barb, Chris, Danny, Peter, Carmen, Dukjoong, Henny, Elmer and LaiEn Photo graciously taken by Owen
Another perspective shot
Oh... and there are *cats* living up here...	Plan of Masada
A place like Masada *must* have a gift shop...

There's also an over-priced McDonald's here... (yeah, even in this place), but I was like... nah... I'm not gonna even bother taking a picture of that.

Next Stop: En-Gedi