Jordan > Floating in the Dead Sea

At eight o’clock, the alarm goes off. During breakfast, Erik explains the itinerary for the trip through Jordan and covers some general information. After breakfast, we walk to the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in Madaba.

Jordan - The view toward the Promised Land from Mount Nebo

Inside this church lies an ancient mosaic depicting the map of Palestine. Mohammed, our guide for the coming days, explains the map and points out the Dead Sea and Bethlehem. When we step outside again, Ibrahim is already waiting with the bus to pick us up. We drive to Mount Nebo. On the 817-meter-high Nebo, Moses died while looking out over the Promised Land. On a clear day, you can see the Jordan Valley (West Bank), Jericho, and the Dead Sea from the summit. In exceptionally clear weather, Jerusalem is also visible. Unfortunately, today it is too hazy to distinguish these places clearly. The chapel on Mount Nebo is under renovation, so we view the mosaic from this chapel outside under a tent. Afterwards, we continue to the Dead Sea. The roads in Jordan are excellent, though there are speed bumps everywhere, requiring Ibrahim to slow down considerably. Along the way, I enjoy watching daily life outside. Mohammed talks about the history through a microphone, though it’s somewhat hard to hear, so I mostly let it pass.

Jordan - Floating and reading a book in the mineralrich waters of the Dead Sea

At a resort on the Dead Sea, we get out of the bus. Lunch is already prepared for us. Outside there is a beautiful pool, shops, and changing rooms, but we are here to swim in the Dead Sea a few meters below. The Dead Sea is the lowest lake in the world, with a water surface over 400 meters below sea level, and it continues to drop. Its high mineral concentration prevents any life from existing in the water and also makes it very easy to float. It is a strange sensation to remain afloat without effort. It is practically impossible to submerge completely; in the deeper parts, you can stand like a buoy without touching the bottom. The mud at the bottom contains many minerals and is considered good for the skin. For a few dinars, we cover ourselves in mud from head to toe. While it dries, we have a lot of fun taking a muddy group photo. After about ten minutes, we return to the water to rinse off the mud. I wash my face in the shower at the top of the beach to avoid getting saltwater in my eyes. At the end of the afternoon, we take a few laps in the regular pool and relax in the lounge chairs, waiting for the sunset. Unfortunately, it is hazy, so the sunset does not produce a very striking glow. In the evening, we have dinner at a restaurant in Madaba, where various Jordanian dishes are served. We end the evening in the hotel bar.