We made two other fun detours along the pilgrimage route from Jerusalem to Jericho. First we turned off at the Wadi Qelt to get a good look at the cliffside Orthodox Monatery of St. George. Such elaborate monasteries, which dot the landscape in this area, find their roots in the eremtical cave dwellers that even pre-date the middle ages. BUildings such as the one in the photos were built near the caves to house Churches and common spaced as the hermits adopted a more cenobitic life. St. George is breath-taking even from a distance.
We also stoppeda t the Sea Level Marker knowing that we would spend Monday night more than 400 meters below sea level. Here we also got up
close and personal with a camel. It was fun to get our photo taken with this big guy.I thought smiling camels were the stuff of cigarette ads, but the camel rubbing his chin on Fr. Carl's head is clearly smiling in this picture. :) After the brief distraction, we were back on our way down and I mean down- to Jericho...
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