WanderingWhy…

 I admit to being geographically challenged.  When we started this trip, I was even worse.   When we arrived in Jordan, I had no idea we were so close to the Dead Sea.  I saw Dead Sea products in our hotel, but did not put two and two together until we spoke to some other travelers.  I am a little slow, but once I caught on, I was excited about the prospect of swimming in it.

We took a taxi with two fellow travelers, Alisa and Matt, and went to visit the Dead Sea.  On the way we stopped at Mt.Nebo, where Moses died and proclaimed to see the Promised Land (not on the same day).  I was astounded that we could see Israel from there.  I felt like Sarah Palin, getting my foreign policy experience (I can see Russia from my house!).

 We continued our journey to 400 meters below sea level.  The Dead Sea was much larger than I had anticipated and very, very clear.  There was salt all around the edges of the water, and salt rocks on the shore.

Sean got in first, and after some convincing that the water was not too cold, I got in, too.  Once in, we decided to test whether you float in the Dead Sea.  We are pleased to tell you that yes, you do float!  You bob, kind of like a cork.  Unless you were wearing concrete shoes compliments of the mob, it is not possible to drown here.  Not that you would want to put your head under anyway, with the high salt content.  Ouch! 

 We followed our dip in the sea with a mud treatment, straight from the banks of the Dead Sea.  A local offered us a plastic supermarket bag for $5 Jordanian dollars to take some home.  Uh, no thanks, that’s almost $7USD, and unless you have Ben and Jerry’s in that bag too, I will pass.

 Our taxi driver then took us to a hot spring to wash off the salt.  Alisa and I decided it was a great spa day, even if it was the lowest point of our trip.

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