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Bathing in the Dead Sea, is another must for a once-in-a-lifetime traveler. From Amman many people go to see castles in the desert or water springs, I chose to touch some places mentioned in the Bible (the Jordan River and Mount Nebo); the city of Madaba and especially the Dead Sea.
Drivers and tour mates
I went with a tour organized by a hostel near where I was sleeping. Also with me was a Dutch girl and a couple from the U.S. (from Salt lake City, another famous salt lake, which is just called the American Dead Sea).
The driver was also a guide, he was Palestinian, and it was very interesting to talk to him. He was very young when he had to flee from East Jerusalem to Jordan in 1967. Since then he had not been able to return and had not been able to see his loved ones again.
Another interesting thing he told us was about some tours he had to take to bring tourists to Saudi Arabia (at that time only Muslims could go there) to see up close the stonings of those sentenced to death.
Bathing in the Dead Sea
It gets really hot in the Dead Sea in August. The plan was to get there early and stay only a short time, just long enough to get smeared with mud and literally walk on the water as the famous one did.
The lake is so salty that solids, including humans and children of deities, float.
A guy came with a construction worker’s bucket full of black mud with big chunks of salt; and he smeared it on us. This service was done only to us boys; the girls had to make do.
It is indescribable to first feel the mud solidify (due to the scorching sun) very quickly on you (it feels like being inside a suit of armor) and after the bath to have the smoothest skin.
Another curious thing was the fact that on the same beach were the 2 Western girls who were with us in bikinis, and the wife of an Arab gentleman who was bathing in a burka.
The Dead Sea is one of the many incredible places in our world that is in danger of disappearing.
They bid the Dutchman
Back in Amman I got an evening date with the Dutchwoman. But in spite of myself I stood her up!
I didn’t have Jordan’s phone card and in my pseudo hotel the wifi was acting up so we didn’t catch each other because of a delay on his part that I couldn’t find out about.
We clarified only when it was now late and the next day my destination was south along the Kings Road! I was left with the knowledge that I would never forget my bath in the Dead Sea.
Home trip Welcome to Jordan (and Israel)
Previous stop On your trip to Jordan, don’t miss Jerash
Next stop Visiting Petra with playful stray dogs
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
Countries visited in my travel stories
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