Better version

Wednesday afternoon, February 9, 2000: We stopped briefly at Qumran. We were told we could go in, if we wanted to (and if we paid), and watch a video about the Dead Sea Scrolls found there in 1947 (--the Scrolls, not the video). I loudly asked, "But the Scrolls aren't here, are they? They're in Jerusalem." just to ensure that no one paid with the mistaken expectation of seeing them. (We were all going to see them anyway once we got to Jerusalem). So, while the others looked in the souvenir shop outside the gate, I decided to ask the camel owner how much a ride would cost. He told me three dollars (twelve shekels). He accepted the ten that I had. I suppose I could have paid less, were I more shrewd. I later learned that Shawn Minor rode a camel for eight shekels. The owner repeatedly reminded me to hold on with both hands. When the camel abruptly knelt down at the end of the ride, I understood why!

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