The border crossing was additionally complicated by the COVID protocols but we finally made it back to Israel from Jordan.

Before crossing the border we passed Tell el-Hammam. The archaeologists working there believe this is the site of biblical Sodom. However most archaeologists say the evidence doesn’t fit the biblical chronology.

We also revisited Jericho, of the New Testament period. These are the remains for Herod the Great’s Jericho palace, where he died.

We couldn’t get to Herod’s palace because the stream of Wadi Qelt was running high and there was no bridge.

On our way out of Jericho we saw this creatively-named eating place.

The ancient road along Wadi Qelt was the road that Jesus would have taken from Jericho up to Jerusalem. The road is no longer open. But further up Wadi Qelt we saw St. George’s monastery. There were dozens of Christian monasteries in the Judean Desert and all over Israel in the Byzantine period.

Nearby, a young sheik was the center of attention.

Soon we were back in Jerusalem, heading towards the Dan Panorama Hotel once again, where we would be in quarantine overnight.

The next morning, Sabbath and a holiday, the streets were unusually quiet.

We were on our way to the one place in Jerusalem where we could get an immediate COVID test, more COVID protocols. Unfortunately nine of our group tested positive and remained in Jerusalem for an extra week, under quarantine.

On our way out of Jerusalem we saw on a distant hill Nebi Samuel, the traditional tomb of the prophet Samuel.

We also stopped at the Basilica of Our Lady Ark of the Covenant, which marks Kiryat Yearim, where the Ark of the Covenant stayed for a period before the Temple was built in Jerusalem.

Final stop on the way out of Jerusalem, a shrine to a more contemporary idol.

Behind schedule, we stopped at one more active archaeological site, Tel Azekah, overlooking the Valley of Elah. This would have been a good place to view the battle between David and Goliath, only archaeologists say the city was unoccupied during that period.

Good bye dinner, seaside in Jaffa.

Finally, to the airport and homeward bound.