Ein Gedi

Named for the ibex that populate the area, Ein Gedi is a beautiful desert oasis near the Dead Sea. There was not shortage of ibex or hyrax to be photographed, and we got to take a refreshing dip in some of these beautiful waterfalls.

Canyon shot:

Ibex that didn't seem to mind being photographed; they seem used to people tromping through their oasis:

We had to look up the name for these critters which seemed to be everywhere. In the meantime, we referred them simply as the ROUS's, but the correct name is apparently "hyrax":

Side hike toward some caves in the cliff face:

Artsy shots of the water:

Couple enjoying a quiet spot in the oasis:

Hope that rock doesn't fall!

Tallest of the waterfalls:

Lunch time by the waterfall:

A couple of guys filling their water bottles from the spring:

Another ibex resting on the hillside:

Toppled tree:

A well-deserved coffee slushy ("ice cafe"):

Sunset over the wadi:

When we got home, it was more showers all around and then we made a regional favorite for dinner, shakshouka:

We didn't take photographic evidence to document all the foods Katie sampled while she was here, but in addition to shakshouka and "ice cafe," they included: falafel, shwarma, date spread, date honey, halvah, labane, dried dates, dried figs, sahlab, pita with zatar, pop-rock chocolate, and nearly every kind of pastry made by Ne'eman bakery.