The Dead Sea

We left Mt Nebo full of excitement as we headed to the Dead Sea for an impromptu side trip. Janice was particularly excited as she had long wanted to visit this area.  We enjoyed a lovely 40 minute drive past the banks of the areas Sea, and the inevitable spas, and stopped at a swimming area.  This included a fresh water pool as well as access to a beach.

 We threw on bathing suits (there was not a towel between us!) and hurried down the beach into the water.

What a weird experience.  One literally steps onto the water and keeps walking until the water deepens but nothing happens.  One floats in a standing position!  When I rolled onto my back I was so far out of the water it felt as if I were merely resting on it!  It was great fun!  We all tried to sink and to see how high we could get out of the water!

After a time Paul, Katie and Janice found some mud on the sea bed and gave themselves a mud bath.
(I was forced out of the water as I was burning badly in the hot noon sun.)

After 30 minutes or so everyone had to get out as the salt was strong and so was the sun.  We showered and had our lunch.

Because we had detoured from the agenda, Ali took us to Petra by a back road.  It was a more interesting route and it took us into the mountains on winding roads.  At one point the road became one lane only and was quite rough.  We passed many Bedouin camps and at one point we stopped because there was a herd of camel on the roadside.

We really appreciated this route as we were able to see the rock formations into which Petra had been carved, and our view was from the outside.  The next day, we knew, we would be seeing Petra itself and appreciating the view from a different aspect.