Heading out of Amman in a nice big bus with a nice smooth ride we head off down the Kings Highway in the footsteps of Moses and the Israelites. Our first port of call is Mt Nebo. This is the place where Moses is believed to have been buried. The views from here are amazing. We look out over the Jordan Valley, across to Israel, Jericho and over the Dead Sea and the dry Moab mountains. On a clear day one can see the minarets and domes of Jerusalem, but it is too hazy today. We visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St Georges with the oldest mosaic map of the Holy Land. This is a charming little church with sacred music eminating from within. The mosaics are extraordinary, beautiful, wondrous.
We wind down to the Dead Sea, 400m below sea level on a road of twisting hairpin bends. Haleluyear! This is the wilderness in which Moses wandered for 40 years trying to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. Somebody must have missed the plot. Moses was 120 years old when he died. He must have started leading the lost tribes of Israel when he was 80 years old. What kind of misguided people are following a crazy old prophet around in the wilderness for 40 years?
Oh yes, and Jericho! That's another one to add to the list of oldest continuously inhabited cities. My list is growing!
Our guide, Abdullah, refers to Israel as "The State of Palestine" all day. It's so deliberate. He just cannot get his tongue round "Israel". I'm rather glad I do not have Jewish clients with me on this trip as they would be highly offended by his blatent disregard for the State of Israel.
We leave the fertile lands behind and dry, barren mountain landscapes take the place of olive trees. Bedouin tents, sheep, goats and camels dot the landscape. We visit Bethany Beyond the Jordan where it is believed Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist.
And so, on to the Dead Sea Spa Resort. A swim in the Dead Sea found us floating and almost able to read a newspaper on our backs. The salt levels in this sea are amazing. The salt gets into every orifice! We then covered ourselves with mud, including hair. You stand in the sun and let the mud dry, then wash it off in the Dead Sea, and finally rinse yourself off in fresh water. Hours later one is still smelling of smelly mud but feel refreshed and rejuvenated with skin like a baby's bottom!
Sitting on the balcony, tonight,I am watching the twinkling lights of Jericho on the Israel side of the Dead Sea. Its amazing to ponder on the ancient history of this area. In the distance, the sound of the last call of the Imam to the faithful to prayer, and next door, at the Kempinski Hotel, a cultural music evening, Bedouin music! I'm sure there's also a lot of belly-dancing going on too!
