Breakfast and boarded the bus at 7:30 for a remarkable 120 mile drive south from Tiberias to the Dead Sea.  Drove alongside the (very small) Jordan River and just across the border fence from Jordan (the country).  Just as we reached the north end of the Dead Sea, enjoyed a short break at a roadside stop - including camels in the parking lot - then continued on southwards through West Bank territory and then back into Israel.  Passed by but did not stop at Qumran, site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered; took snapshots of the iconic cliffs and caves out of the bus window.  Full stop there to come later today.

We are more than 1250 feet below sea level as we drive along the banks just above the Dead Sea … not quite down to the shore at -1410 feet (that will be a later day in the trip), but already lower than any other point on earth, and certainly the lowest I’ve ever been!