We went to the Dead Sea on Sunday, located 400m below sea level, it was amazing! First and foremost, you do float. I thought it was a slight exaggeration every time I heard it, but I know now it is true. The sea is ridiculously salty and hurts your eyes and burns your mouth. The water is not for swimming, just floating, but the mud is remarkable. I put it all over my body and even on my face. I was feeling my face the entire way home, it was so soft. I wanted to see how expensive the products were, but the shop was closed. For those interested you can buy them online at www.deadseashops.com.
However, I would think twice before buying them. Here is why; the Dead Sea is in Area (Section) C, which has been completely taken over by Israel and the IDF has full control, no Palestinian Police are allowed. Israel sectioned all the land in such a way that any land with resources or of value as a tourist location is in Section C. (Same goes with my trip to Jerusalem, the money I spent there supports Israel not Palestine.) So you buy Dead Sea products you are buying from land that has been stolen and in essence an entire economy that has been stolen as well. The products from the land and the sales of those products support the economy of Israel and not Palestine. I was pissed when I was standing on Palestinian land and paid 50 Shekels to Israel to enter the Dead Sea beach.
All that is just another sad piece of what this conflict has created; the wall is only a small piece of it, On Sunday I was reminded that not only the people of Palestine have been repressed but it's economy as well.
The good news is that didn't ruin my day. I had a wonderful time with the family and Fadi and I both experienced the Dead Sea for the first time. He was afraid of the water and spent most of his time walking around the beach on his tip toes. Quasi actually fell asleep on my lap during the trip home. I said to Muhannad and Nancy with a smirk, "I like him like this," they laughed and agreed.
