Jericho, River Jordan, the Dead Sea & The road climbing from Jericho to Jerusalem
In spite of the difficulties of the desert route and heavy heat, visitors to Jerusalem did not want to miss going down to the Jordan River, the site of Christ's baptism and the place where the tribes of Israel crossed into the land of Canaan.
Jericho, a small and neglected site, is mentioned due to the nearby Spring of Elisha and a few hotels which served as a resting place or for an overnight stay.
In spite of the terrible heat, often described as "unbearable", and which was graphically portrayed on painted landscapes in purple, red and orange hues, most tourists visited the northern tip of the Dead Sea to observe its lifeless shores and landscape which gave it its name.
The visitors left the Jordan Valley and climbed back via the Jericho-Jerusalem road, visiting the Inn of the Good Samaritan and the village of Bethany (El-Azaria) in passing - all sacred Christian sites.
