Day 1 and 2

Amman to Zanzibar
Day 1. Finally arrived at our Dead Sea hotel in Amman after a 24 hour journey that included two dinners and three breakfasts and 2 hours in Qantas lounge. Healthy living program off to a good start.  The Dead Sea is 420 m below sea level and has a salt concentration 10 times that of sea water so amazingly easy to float. It is hard to sit here in the beautiful and peace Jordan and look across the sea and can see the West Bank in Israel.  Jordan is a peaceful country in a bad neighbourhood.
Surrounded by Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Palestine it is hard to see how it is so peaceful here.
Day 2.  A half day trip to visit the site at Bethany on the Jordan where John the Baptist baptised Jesus.  Interesting excavations that have only occurred after peace with Israel was established in 1994.   It was fascinating to stand on the Jordan at a spot that was only about 20 m wide and the other side was Israel where there were also pilgrims visiting the Jordan and were dunking themselves in the water. Only a short distance in length between two countries but miles apart culturally.

Back to the hotel for lunch and a chance to float in the Dead Sea and be covered in the mud of the area that allegedly provides great healing properties. I think all it did is make Ger’s day as she thought I was Denzel Washington.  It is incredible floating in the sea reading a book.

 


On to the Dead Sea for a floating experience and
covered in mud, guarantee the man said to make us look 21 again.  I said put on a bit less I rather be about 35. You may not recognise us when we return.
Here are some photos of our fun so far.

View from Hotel room looking across dead sea to the west bank

We are in Jordan and they are in Israel



Spot where John the Baptist baptised Jesus