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I am a native of Floridian, now New Yorker, who hates the ocean. I am not a fan of the sun, creatures of the ocean or beach life in general, and that is why it is strange that the most spiritual water experience. It was not on a beach, it was at the Dead Sea in Israel.
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Because I had heard of the Dead Sea for years – from the science class to the Hebrew school – I had all sorts of preconceived notions about what would be the experience. I imagined it would be something like the beaches where I grew up at home in Fort Lauderdale: crowded, noisy and relaxing only if served with a side of alcohol. I knew I would float in the water because of the high salinity, but that was just about everything I was sure of. My fiance, though born and raised in Israel, had gone to sea only as a small child. So we spent two days in Israel last August for a romantic getaway on the salt coast.
Jenna Rosenstein
It did not seem to me until we actually started the precarious descent from the winding path to the sea at how low it really is. At nearly 1400 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth – and the road seems the same. Elevation markers line the two-way street towards Ein Bokek town and your ears get plugged and jump along the path. Getting out of the car at the hotel, it's a bit like going out on the surface of Mars. The air, the sun, everything looks different.
What I thought was a little bit of beach crowded with tourists was actually a fairly long expanse of golden sand and a strangely calm water lined with several hotels; some just on the water, others on the other side of the street. We stayed at the Dead Sea of Herod, an unpretentious seaside resort that recedes to the water's edge (there are even more seaside resorts on the Jordanian side). We quickly put our stuff in the room, put on our swimsuits and walked out to the sea.
What immediately struck me was the few people. Admittedly, it was the end of August, and the outside temperature was well over 100 degrees (Israeli close to us had warned us that it would be very hot outside and we were crazy about it!) Go there this year). With only three or four people visible on the horizon, no signs of animals and barely a detectable breeze in the air or a movement in the water, the Dead Sea is scary – in common sense. This is what I imagine that astronauts must feel during a walk in space: it is deeply peaceful, impressive, yet yet devoid of any life. I liked it.
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Jenna Rosenstein
I headed towards the water, noticing that the sand went from golden yellow to white, where the water touched the sand. But it was not sand at all – it was deposits of crystallized salt, a foretaste of what was coming. I threw my flip flops on the shore and waded slowly. The water was so hot that she was hot. I continued to walk until it reached my chest, then I leaned back and rushed into the sea. I only immersed myself for a second before going back to the surface, like a human rubber duckie.
Everyone wants to know what the sea looks like, 9.6 times saltier than the ocean. I did it too, so I asked some seasoned friends before making the trip. The only advice they had to offer? Do not shave a few days before entering the water unless you are masochistic. Forgetting to shave is my specialty, so I thought I was prepared at the salt level that my body was going to experiment with. I was wrong.
What no one is telling you to go into the Dead Sea, is this: every hole in your body, especially the most sensitive ones, stings like a hell. But it's a sting that is worth it to be durable (power through!) For results obtained from the other side.
Jenna Rosenstein
The Dead Sea has been an attraction for healing and well-being for millennia. Indeed, it has been shown that the unique mineral composition of water, mud and atmospheric pressure hinders inflammatory conditions such as psoirase, acne and arthritis. If someone can walk with psoriasis and come out healed, imagine what he can do for a tired and aging skin that just needs a little nudge. Beauty marks as AHAVA For years, we've been harnessing the power of Dead Sea salts and minerals, turning this natural ingredient into a powerful anti-aging routine (more details later). Buckets of raw mud from the Dead Sea were lined up along the shore (you could also buy one at the hotel's souvenir shop) and the few people who enjoyed the day with us slipped into the luggage. Of course, I did the same.
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After spending an hour baking in the mud, diving into the sea, then relaxing under a parasol on the sand, we decided to go inside for a quick snack. I had a furious thirst (hello, salt) and I swallowed two bottles of water like Popeye with a box of spinach. After taking a shower to remove all the salt from my skin and hair, I wiped the condensation from the bathroom mirror and could not believe my reflection. I was beaming as if I had just come out of a five – star spa – and even though I had the impression of being able to use a good dose of moisturizer after all that salt – my skin did not look good. had never been so clear or even. I was, as children say, thoroughly shaken. I have tried almost all facial and skin care products that promise bright, even skin. Nothing is comparable to a bath in the Dead Sea.
Jenna Rosenstein
I woke up early the next morning and came back to the water before breakfast. I had to spend as much time as possible before leaving, and I even considered emptying the toilet flasks to get some of the Dead Sea back home. My skin had never really looked better, I had never felt more relaxed or invigorated and I left with a new appreciation of Mother Nature's healing powers. I am not religious, but floating in this healing and nourishing water was as spiritual as I have ever felt.
Unfortunately, the effects of flotation in the Dead Sea lasted only about two days, before my degenerated skin degenerated into a dull, lifeless head. But the whole industry would not be dedicated to Dead Sea cosmetics if the health and beauty benefits could not be brought home, at least to a certain extent. In fact, our hotel even had a pack of salt in the bathroom that we could bring back with us for free.
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Although my relocation to the Dead Sea is not an option for me, I've incorporated tons of Dead Sea inspired products into my routine when I feel nostalgic and I need TLC. The best (that's a fact) come from AHAVA. In addition to the soothing mud and Dead Sea bath salts, the brand also manufactures anti-aging products, masks and powerful cleansers that are seriously underestimated. The Extreme Firming Eye Contour Cream is thick and soft, instantly plumping fine lines and making the concealer under the eyes more effective than you ever thought possible. Extreme Night Treatment is a jelly-like serum that exfoliates and moisturizes for a younger-looking skin in the morning. Both use a mixture called The Extreme Complex ™, which is a combination of active ingredients from the lowest place of the Earth (the aforementioned sea) and the highest place on Earth (there are goji berries Tibetan mountains).
It may have been years before I could visit the Dead Sea again, but I have preached how much this experience has changed the lives of anyone who is ready to listen. If you are looking for a vacation spot to restore your soul, your skin and your connection with nature, put Jordan or Israel to the top of the list. And if you can not get there anytime soon, collect at least one pack (or ten) of Dead Sea bath salts. In this age of wellness and personal care, just a little salt water.
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