Masada - Israel - TravBuddy

If you're more into the history of the fertile crescent as opposed to comfy bus tours, Masada is a must. This mesa is an ancient fortress representing the last stand of the Jewish people against the Romans. When they lost this battle, the Jews were scattered for over a thousand years until Israel became a nation again around 1948. After taking a cable car up to the fortress, one can see the ruins below of several Roman living areas. On top of the mesa within Masada, one can follow signs describing the scenes and remaining structures. The technology used in this city were amazing: from water collection systems to keep the cistern full, to steam recirculating systems in the bath house, to walls impervious to battering rams, this was one of the best fortresses of the world at that time.