In the Wilderness: Qumran

Our adventures on this day began with Masada and ended with the Dead Sea soak. In between was a visit to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrols were discovered in the mid- twentieth century. We walked through the remains of the Essene community. The landscape comports with the description of wilderness-- think of John the Baptist described as a voice crying in the wilderness. The remains suggest that there was a community that observed an ascetic lifestyle. The finding of the scrolls was of great significance. The story is that the first of the scrolls was found in one of the many caves by a shepherd who stumbled upon the structure after throwing a stone that didn't bounce back. It took a while for scholars to understand the significance of the discovery--after small pieces of scrolls were torn off and sold as little remnants of antiquity. It was another one of those other worldly landscapes. Someone mentioned that they were reminded of DUNE. . .

We made a stop in the gift store and were able to purchase products from the nearby Dead Sea. Our next stop was to that place where we changed into bathing suits and tried without sinking or slipping in mud at the shore and under foot in the water to manuever to the floating position. It is a very strange feeling to be so buoyant. It is also a little perilous as it is mighty uncomfortable to get any of the water into eyes or mouth.

The ritual is to soak for not more than 15 minutes and then to cover yourself with the mud from the bottom or thw shore then go back into the Dead Sea to wash off. Then it is up to the shower to get any remaining mud and all the sea salt and minerals off. There is supposed to be a tranquilizing effect also in the air as a result of the evaporating minerals, bromides in the atmosphere.

Most of us agreed we were glad to have had the experience of being at the lowest place on this planet and of floating in the Dead Sea.