German “oases” on the Dead Sea

© Goethe-Institut

Here we are at the lowest point on Earth, 400 metres below sea level, in a unique landscape of stone, desert and salt. At the shore of the Dead Sea the hotel blocks here form odd-looking oases of civilisation. They have names such as Nirvana or Lot and on the way there you pass road signs showing you the way to Sodom.

And anyone entering these hotels is surprised at how much German is spoken here. It’s spoken by psoriasis patients whose stay of at least three weeks is financed by the German health insurance companies.

© Goethe-Institut

In these circles people have known for a long time that the air here combined with the sunshine, minerals and sea water may not cure them completely (that isn’t possible), but it will certainly provide them with relief.