We took our rental car and drove south to the Dead Sea through some very interesting areas (tell you about it when we get home....;). The Dead Sea scrolls were found near the northwest corner of the sea. We got to see a few of the caves (from a distance) where they were found in the 1940s. Then we went to a swimming area and "swam"...more like flailed... in the very salty water. Then drove to the Nagev Desert where we stayed at a camel ranch....rode camels for an hour into the desert and they fed us dinner and breakfast....authentic foods that the travelers prepared as they traveled on the spice road on camels. Tuesday we drove up to Jerusalem where we stayed within the walls of the Old City...brimming with culture - lots and lots of it! Saw the Western Wall, Mt of Olives, Hezekiah's Tunnel (where you wade through a tunnel in refreshing water) and a few places where they think He (J....) is buried...... This morning we rode the bus 2 hours north to Haifa and we are now getting ready to leave tomorrow for Athens. It has been so amazing to experience Lisa's life here. We have eaten really good food, seen awesome sites, met really nice people and have not felt a drop of rain;)!
Just chillin in the Dead Sea. It's nearly impossible to sink. Greasy water...
Us three and the Dead Sea
A trek thru the Nagev Desert on our camels
Cover thy head....;) At the Western Wall
Jerusalem fruit stand
This is the Hydra Villa, where we are staying
Our first swimmin hole...unbelievable
Hydra's delivery trucks
Here's a picture of the perfect swimmin hole...a 15 minute walk from town. Secluded and all ours! I think we will go back tomorrow.
Four bobbers
Athens, Greece
The Parthenon
Mars Hill (Paul preached from here)
The Acropolis
A tour of Athens on a double decker bus (hop on hop off). A great way to see the city!
Yup....we even got to swim here! Goin again today...and tomorrow...and the next day;)
Port entrance
The bustling port of Hydra ;) No cars are allowed...only donkeys for transportation. Surreal!
The view from our verandah last night
Lisa and us with the Dome of the Rock in the background (plated in gold)
Cruisin the Aegean Sea!
Mykonos Island
Ultimate beauty;)
The main street in Ephesis, Turkey. This is where people sold idols for those coming to worship the godess Diana (Acts 19). Only 1/10 of this city has been excavated...and it has taken 145 years to do this much.
The theater (mentioned in Acts 19)
Our ship from the Kusadasi, Turkey port
Approaching the island of Patmos, where John spent time in exile
This is the view from the supposed cave where John wrote Revelations. A church has been built around the cave.
We met some friends we know from Australia on our cruise! Pam Prouse (front) and David and Judy Silverlock live in Perth, Western Australia. We first met them in 1994 when we were there as a family. The are on a 10 week tour of Europe. On the cruise we ate dinner with them each evening and we spent Sunday with them on Crete.
We docked in Heraklion, a city located on the northern shores of Crete. Lots of shops in the markets eager to sell you their wares
That's a fortress in the background at the Heraklion harbor
Santorini - sits atop an ancient volcanic crater
Santorini
Dan was at the arrival hall at the port in Piraeus when we disembarked. It was good to see him amongst all of the strangers! We are at the hotel near the port and will soon leave for a day tour of Athens.
Just chillin in the Dead Sea. It's nearly impossible to sink. Greasy water...
Us three and the Dead Sea
A trek thru the Nagev Desert on our camels
Cover thy head....;) At the Western Wall
Jerusalem fruit stand 
Nimrod Fortress, Golan Heights....built in 1200's
Nimrod's Fortress, Golan Heights. Built in the 1200s
Hermon Stream...like an oasis surrounded by arid country 