On to Jerusalem

Our trip down from Galilee into Jerusalem took us down Highway 90 through the Jordon Rift Valley past Jericho, then west on Highway 1 into Jerusalem. The valley was formed by the movement of the Arabian tectonic plate. The Jordan river flows down to around 1,370 feet below sea level at the Dead Sea, which has no outlet. During the descent, the landscape becomes increasingly arid.

Politically, the valley is also the eastern portion of the West Bank, a contested area with a largely Arab population that came under Israeli military control during the Six-Day War in 1967. Villages of Bedouin desert people were visible beside Highway 1 on our climb out of the valley up to Jerusalem.

Our hotel for our five nights in Jerusalem was the Leonardo Plaza, yet another well-maintained but clear representative of 1970's architecture.

05/25/2011 17:53:04
Jordan River Valley
05/25/2011 18:07:48
Jordan River Valley
05/25/2011 18:08:12
Jordan River Valley
05/25/2011 18:08:20
Jordan River Valley
05/25/2011 18:09:22
Defense outpost
05/25/2011 18:09:26
Defense outpost
05/25/2011 18:11:30
Sensor fence
05/25/2011 18:12:06
Security outpost
05/25/2011 18:13:16
Jordan
05/25/2011 18:17:26
Security building
05/25/2011 18:44:44
Increasingly arid
05/25/2011 18:52:58
Heading west to Jerusalem
05/25/2011 18:54:04
Heading west to Jerusalem
05/25/2011 18:57:28
Heading west to Jerusalem
05/25/2011 18:58:10
Heading west to Jerusalem
05/25/2011 18:59:02
Climbing to Jerusalem
05/25/2011 18:59:52
Climbing to Jerusalem
05/25/2011 19:00:52
Climbing to Jerusalem
05/25/2011 19:03:00
Bedouin
05/25/2011 19:06:44
Bedouin
05/25/2011 19:07:38
Gas station
05/25/2011 19:08:16
Highway 1 Signs
05/25/2011 19:11:00
Hilltop settlements east of Jerusalem
05/25/2011 19:11:06
Hilltop settlements east of Jerusalem
05/25/2011 19:15:28
Checkpoint
05/25/2011 19:15:38
Checkpoint
05/25/2011 19:18:06
Jerusalem
05/25/2011 19:45:14
Leonardo Plaza - Checking in
05/25/2011 19:50:54
Checking in
05/25/2011 19:56:40
Room
05/25/2011 19:57:28
View from room
05/25/2011 19:58:20
View from room
05/25/2011 20:31:56
Dinner
05/25/2011 20:32:06
Dinner
05/26/2011 06:22:16
Leonardo Plaza
05/26/2011 06:25:08
Leonardo Plaza
05/26/2011 07:29:32
Breakfast
05/26/2011 07:29:56
Breakfast
05/26/2011 07:30:08
Breakfast

Next: Day 4: Bethlehem