Because the kids get Friday off from school but do have it on Saturday, we left after school on Thursday and did an overnight trip to Jericho. Jericho calls itself “The Oldest City in the World”–an argument it can take up with Damascus, Syria at its leisure.

In Jericho one can visit the Mount of Temptation, where tradition has it that Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days while the Devil sat next him, one finger millimeters from Jesus’s face, saying ‘I’m not tempting you. I’m not tempting you. I’m not tempting you.’

Just down the road from Jericho is the Dead Sea, or “The Lowest Point On Earth”. Since we didn’t pack any swimwear, we didn’t try out the sea’s famed floatation possibilities, or its mineral-based therapeutic properties. Next time…

We stayed at the Auberg Inn (“The House of the Eggplants”) in Jericho. We’d say it was more hostel than inn…but, so it goes.

The backyard garden at Auberg Inn. No eggplants in sight, sadly.

Some artwork in the common room.

So…it’s a…cabinet AND a hiding spot?

If you zoom in you can see the sparkle stick the woman is holding in honor of her birthday.

Build into the cliffside at the Mount of Temptation is a Greek Orthodox monastery. The current monestary was built in 1895. Tradition has it that it is built on the spot where Jesus Christ was tempted by the Devil.

Closer view of the monastery.

It us.

View of the cable cars that take you to and from the Mount of Temptation. We rode them back, having walked up earlier.

This is Sam the Camel.

Sam had difficulty saying goodbye.

At the entrance to Kalia Beach at the Dead Sea.

Said Dead Sea, with Jordan in the distance.