Israel day 1

We arrived in Israel on the 8th at 9 am. Our van driver was there waiting for us to collect our luggage and get our passports stamped. Then we changed in some money and rented a cell phone. By then it was off to Masada Youth Hostel. About a 2 hour drive from Tel Aviv. The scenery is absolutely amazing and wonderful. It was very interesting to drive through the various cities and see the changing landscape. Israel, by the way, is very hilly!!!!! Got to drive by Jerusalem. Saw some camels and bedouins. Very interesting.

By the time we got to the youth hostel I was spent. I really needed some sleep as did the rest of us. Probably not the smartest move but when one is tired one must succumb. We woke up around 2 pm and were a little hungry. Dinner was not until 7. We were staying right by the Masada National Park so we ventured over there for some eats!!! (The group we connected up with was in Egypt and we were scheduled to meet at Masada.

We walked around the visitor center and decided to eat instead of go up to the top. We were sadly disappointed when we found out we missed the last cable car up!!! So with many hours to kill we just talked and waited.

Dinner time came and still no group. We went over and ate and kept getting asked where the rest of the group was!?! When they finally arrived we were excited to hear that 1 - we did not miss the Dead Sea (our itinerary said we would) and 2 - We did not miss Masada!!! We also came to find out that everything was included in our tour. Any excursions included!!!! So God is so good to supply all our needs, especially in the holy land.