On the road to Jericho, Palestine

On the road to Jericho -- mama & baby camel.

Baby Camel!

Downtown Jericho.

Downtown Jericho.

Lunch in Jericho.

Delicious!

Making bread.

Sweets.

A few years ago, a colleague and I started making multiple trips to Israel-Palestine and Jordan. During one of those first trips, a rental car agency warned us to be very careful driving at night as camels tend to wander onto the roads. I grew up in the Midwest so I know the damage a deer can do to vehicle. I didn't want to imagine what a camel could do. We diligently went on "camel watch" each time we took to the roads after dark. But, we never saw a camel. During our most recent trip to the region, we finally got to see camels roaming the roads. We've never been more excited to see a mother and her calf wondering along the roadside near Jericho.

The city of Jericho may be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth. Archaeologists have unearthed remains dating back 11,000 years. Today, Jericho is located in the West Bank, Palestine some 850 feet below sea level not far from the banks of the Dead Sea. Its Jericho Cable Car whizzes tourists to the Mount of Temptation in just five minutes. From there its just a short walk to an ancient monastery chiseled in the mountain side. A great place for lunch -- the people are friendly, the food is delicious and nothing beats the desserts!