Madaba and Dead Sea

The last night with the group still there was a Friday, which as the first day of the weekend is cause for celebration. We could see fireworks and hear gunfire, no one was being killed (as far as I know) but they just like to make a lot of noise!

Once again Khaled from Morocco and Mo spoke passionately about their hopes for peace in the Middle East. But I fear that Jordan will be sucked in to the wars sometime soon, and now is the time to go there if you want to see its amazing sights.

I stayed on in Madaba for couple of extra days. Geert from Holland and I had hoped to figure out how to do a trip over the Israeli border to Jerusalem for a day. But we heard that there has been some action there in the last couple of days, so we will not be going.

Instead I checked out the archaeological museum, where I was guided around by the earnest curator, and booked myself and Dave from Australia for a spa day at the Dead Sea for our final day.

Our driver followed the winding road up to Mount Nebo, then back down to the Dead Sea. Bedouin settlements with tents and herds of goats and sheep exist across the highway from huge resorts.

At the Dead Sea Spa, we were taken to the dingy basement where we were packed with mud and wrapped in plastic. This happened in separate rooms, although the mud lady at first led me into the room where Dave was undressing, and could not understand how we could not be married since we had come there together. Awkward.

After the mud treatment was washed off, I had a great Thai massage by a girl from Bangkok. We had a drink in the deserted outdoor lounge while waiting for our driver to return. The Filipino woman who served us told us how bookings have been cancelled in the last few months because of the nearby unrest. While sitting there, a group of women in full black burkas with only eyes exposed openly stared at me – I swear only my wrists and head were showing!

Back at the hotel, I got some sleep before my 3 am flight from the ultra modern Amman airport, arriving home around 3 am Regina time after a couple of missed flights – thanks again Air Canada.