ESRA’s January trip to the Dead Sea was a delightful getaway.  As the bus headed south our tour guide gave us an overview of the Bedouins in the Negev.  We later stopped to visit the Joe Alon Center for Regional Studies, (named after the late Colonel Joe Alon) at Kibbutz Lahav.
 
The Joe Alon visitor center specializes in the geography of Israel, particularly that of the Negev. We toured the Museum of Bedouin Culture with our local guide.  Established in 1985 the museum’s colorful exhibits illustrate traditional Negev and Sinai Bedouin crafts, culture and life. We enjoyed viewing the rich display of dwellings, clothing, woven carpets, jewelry, and even homemade toys. The wedding camel wowed us all. Original photographs and clear explanations clarified each exhibit.


Later, inside an authentic winter tent our Bedouin host recounted the traditions of tent life. Afterwards, he poured us traditional sweet tea or bitter coffee.


After lunch we toured the city of Beersheba from the bus.  We stopped to visit the Australian Soldier Park, which is dedicated to the memory of the Australian Light Horse regiment of the British Army, that conquered the town from the Turks in WWI.  In addition to paying a beautiful tribute to the Australian soldiers, the play areas are all impressively handicap accessible.

We arrived at our hotel with just enough time for a dip in the lovely pool, a short walk to the Dead Sea or perhaps a nice nap. The dinner buffet was lavish and the after-dinner entertainment included talented dancers and singers with so many costume changes that we wondered how they could possibly change so fast!

The next day was everyone’s day to rest and relax. Some hiked, some swam and some enjoyed the luxurious spa treatments.

A visit to the Dead Sea Works was next on the program. From a beautiful lookout point above the Dead Sea, our guide explained that the company is the world's 4th largest producer and supplier of potash products. It also produces magnesium chloride, industrial salts, de-icers, bath salts, table salt, and raw materials for the cosmetic industry. It exports to customers all over the world.

We enjoyed a nice lunch in the employee’s cafeteria, bid farewell to the Dead Sea and headed home.
 
Overall the company was great and trip was very enjoyable.