Photos from Jordan

Here are some photos from Jordan which I visited in Spring Break (April) 2014.

I was struck by how dry and barren the landscape was. 

 

 To reach the Dead Sea we had to drop down a huge hill.

 I see the sea!

Moonscape.

 Arid landscape.

Dry as far as the eye can see. 

 Busy road.

Give way to donkeys.

 Rubbish everywhere on the road side.

 Picnic rubbish left behind.

Tree screening a bedouin camp.

 River Jordan here I come!

 Maybe not, it's closed.

 Bedouin camp.

 View from my hotel room.

 Goats being rounded up by vehicle.

 Camel and goats.

Track down to the Dead Sea.  The security didn't like me walking down alone.  Madame, please wait for the bus. 

 Looking back at the hotel - Winter Warwick Hotel.

First glimpse of the Dead Sea.

 

 No wonder they didn't want me walking alone.  Where am I going?

Found out next day that this is a military zone.

 Now I see it...  Millpond.

 Mmmm...  Rubbish everywhere!

Looking across the shore on the Jordan side.

 Weightless!

 Sunset - time to head back to the hotel.

 Following yonder star!

 Night view looking towards Israel.

 Early morning view of bedouin camp from my room.

Woke to cocks crowing and goats bleating.

Dead Sea is not dead today.

 Looking towards Golan Heights, Israel.

 Reminds me of the sounds.

 Choppy water.

 And more rubbish is being washed up.  This part of the beach was kept clean, outside the area was disgusting.

 Water is too rough to stand up in.

 Not sure how I'll get this 'beauty' mud off!

Thanks to the non English speaking Russian ladies who helped slather me up.

 Ready for a clean up.

 Rest time.  Camels and donkeys were everywhere.  When we stopped, this man wanted the tourist dollar.

 Mmmm...  Pity about all the rubbish.

 Baptisimal site of Jesus.

 Mosaic map.

The mosaics were incredible.

 Daniel.

Epiphanius.

 Theodosius.

 Antoninus.

Arculfus.

 

 Overview of the area.

 Good signage.

 Everything is well labeled.

 Feeling the spirituality.

 Jesus' baptisimal site.

 Unearthed ruins.

 Ancient mosaic.

 Looking through the chapel.

 Marble flooring.

 Greek Orthodox Church.

 I felt an incredible peace and calmness.

Baptism.  Wish I'd thought of that!

Oh look!  It's my two Russian ladies from the Dead Sea.

 Looking across the Jordan River (more like a dirty stream) to Israel.  All those tourists are on the Israeli side looking over to Jordan.

 The border is very close.

Armed guards patrol it.

Not quiet a full immersion!

But you can see it's like a creek.

 Looking down towards the river and the Israeli side.

 The church on site.

 Amazing paintings.

Gold everywhere.

 Heavenly light.

 Always look up.

 Mosaic floor.

 More flooring.

 Incredible!

 Looking through the fencing towards Israel.  What you can't see is the Jordanian military presence with armoured vehicles, men and guns to the side.

 Cross on the hill.