Shopping in Israel – the lowest point on Earth
The Dead Sea — impossible floating, stinging eyes, sulphur showers and the AHAVA factory — followed by the bleak heat of Masada. (3 min read)
The Dead Sea in Israel is the lowest place on the planet and, unexpectedly for me, one can shop there!
The offering is mostly Dead Sea mud and related products but for those with consumption withdrawal can find satisfaction.
I know this because the first stop on my day trip to Massada and the Dead Sea was the AHAVA factory – which is the largest manufacturer of the Dead Sea stuff.
The Dead Sea is awesome. The water is about 40 degrees and has so much salt (60%) that it is impossible not to float. A swim is not straight-forward. You have to wear shoes in because of the hard salt crystal bottom which cuts your feet without them. You cannot dive in because if the salt gets in your eyes it stings a great deal (i learnt this the hard way).
We accessed the Dead Sea at the En Gedi Spa – which used to be right on the water’s edge but is now more than a kilometre away. They offer a little train ride to get you to the water if you need it.
Also on offer is a free mud bath and sulphur showers. These things make your skin feel fabulous but it has taken 2 days for the sulphur smell to disappear – travelling with New Zealanders means they do not notice this!
I’m so pleased to have visited En Gedi and could easily have spent the whole day there, but the trip also included a few hours at Massada – which is where Herod’s palace was built over 2000 years ago. Massada is a bleak symbol of Jewish resistance and has been the site of much archeological work and restoration. It was 42 degrees and desolate and I never need to return.
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