מצדה

2/20/14 (I'm gonna try to start putting dates on these since I never seem to post them on the actual day)

Today we woke up at 2:30. Got on the buses around 3:00 and headed for Masada. We all slept on the bus of course. We were scheduled to arrive at 4:45 but didn't get there until 5:15. That put us a half hour behind schedule. It was still pitch black but by the time we started hiking the sun was already staring to come up. Of course we went up the snake path and let me just say it was a good thing I was half asleep or I might not have made it. If you've never heard or just don't know anything about Masada, the snake path is a windy trail on which you walk up steps the entire time (usually about 45 minutes). It was a long and tiring walk but it was worth it. The sun came up about 10 minutes after me and the friends I was hiking with (Tessa and Ophir) reached the top. It was so pretty!!! After watching the sun rise we waited for the people who still hadn't quite made it up to the top then we had services. It was amazing being able to have our little service looking out at the sun going up over the Dead Sea and over the mountains on Jordan. During the service we did a thing that I've done before at kallah and really enjoy. It's when during silent prayer you get up and find a spot just to look around and take everything in around you, and when you are onto of Masada, the view is spectacular. Next we had Jewish history. Who needs those headphone guided tours when you've got a 4 Jewish history teachers telling you and showing you everything? :D We learned about King Herods use for Masada, and the Zealots and their time occupying it, and of course the Roman conquest. My favorite part though was that we got to go out on a platform at the edge of the platou, and scream at the top of our lungs into the mountains and then here the eco. We yelled "שלום" and we yelled "שנית מצדה לא תפול" and          "עם ישראל חי" and lastly we all yelled "NFTY-EIE". 

After class we hiked back down the snake path to the youth hostels where we are lunch (we are staying there for the next 2 nights). We had been told earlier in the day that what we were doing after Masada was a surprise so we were all very anxious and at long last they told us: Repelling. So pretty much just casually walking down a cliff in the dessert. It was fun, the scariest part was definitely the ladder to get up there. Then we just all hung out until everyone had gone. A bunch of us were laying In a Tetris-cuddle pile (can't explain it any other way). 

Now we are back at the hostile just chilling out. My roommates for now are Alexandra, Kira, Maddie, and Noa. It's a pretty awesome room hahaha. 

Tonight I also hung out with some people. We just sat watching the stars for a while and talking about random things until rooms in.