Amman, Jordan - Week 1

Our flight from Cairo to Amman was simple by any standards as we left about 10AM and the flight was just over an hour.  We had purchased a "Jordan Pass" for 4 of us as this got us a visa entry and access to some tourist sites. A visa costs 40JOD to enter the country (about $55 USD) so its one of the more expensive places to get into.  We didn't purchase passes for the two youngest children because they are free at most tourist sites. Their visas were quickly granted but then they ushered Dad off into this small room without saying much at all about why.  While everyone waiting a bit anxiously, he just sat there while they manually processed the other 4 visas. In the end it was no big deal at all and just required waiting but everyone was a little on edge at first because this part of the world is known to examine passports and question those with lots of stamps.

Upon concluding that ordeal we were greeted by our long time friend who now live in Jordan (we live next to the dad's parents back in MN). Katie, Shannon and their three kids have spent 6+ years in Jerusalem and just moved to Amman last year.  Visiting them in the Holy Land has been on our list ever since they left. We were driven to their new home and spent the afternoon and evening just hanging out and catching up. It was a great time of fellowship and fun to see them despite all of us having come down with some serious colds, which we assume we caught in Egypt with the massive amounts of dirt and dust in the air.

After struggling to drag ourselves away and we drove around the block to our free accommodations that some friends of theirs were letting us stay at for a few nights. This was an amazing gesture on their part and thoroughly appreciated by us as they asked for nothing in return.

The next morning we were able to sleep in and Dad walked to Starbucks - what a treat! It was much colder here than in Cairo and we had to bundle up in most of our warmer gear which hadn't been used in some time. For lunch we had scheduled to meet with another couple from our church who work and live in Amman. They had family arriving that evening so we just grabbed a quick lunch, swapped stories and heard about their lives and work.  Their daughter had already arrived from the States and we enjoyed chatting with her as she had done the Amazing Race several years ago.  It was a fun couple of hours and we parted ways to pack up for our last minute excursion to the Dead Sea.  We were planning to make the Dead Sea a day trip the following day but we opted to head up early and spend the night in order get two salt-filled soakings.

The Dead Sea is the lowest place on the earth, about 1300 feet below sea level, and the sun and salt combination are supposed to be very therapeutic for skin issues, so we wanted to have dad spend some time in this environment. The Holiday Inn shocked us! It was like no Holiday Inn back in the States but rather resembled a high end resort in Scottsdale, Arizona complete with lots of pools and beige tones to boot.  It also had the fastest free wifi we have encountered on our entire trip, but unfortunately (or fortunately as it provided for focused family fun) we left most of our devices back at the Amman apartment since this was just a quick one night getaway.

Floating in the Dead Sea is a surreal experience. You literally can't sink. You can put your feet straight down and feel like you are standing as your head stays above water with no effort.  You can lounge on your butt and hold both your hands and feet out of the water with no effort.  It's a very cool experience as long as you don't get the water in your eyes, mouth, or any cuts, which of course a few of the kids did. They also had buckets of mud to lather on yourself for "cleansing" purposes.  We then talked our way into the spa area, which isn't supposed to be for kids, and all took a sauna and steam together since the resort was pretty much dead at this time and no one else was there.

Slathering on the Dead Sea mud

Family mud bath

In the morning, we opted for one more soak and then drove over to the "Baptism site" where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist  (John 1:29-34). We arrived in perfect time as the tour was just leaving. They believe they know the actual spot as there have been 5 churches built in this specific spot on the Jordan River.  The first one dates back to 500AD and was destroyed by an earthquake while the other 4 churches were all taken out by floods. The Jordan River is migratory and has since shifted to what they believe is this place.

Believed to be the original location where John the Baptist baptized Jesus

Experiencing the Jordan River

The kids are touching the Jordan River from Jordan and
across the ropes guests in Israel are experiencing the Jordan River!

Boys eating a salty shrub that grows in the desert

We also drove past the hill from which Elijah supposedly ascended to heaven in chariots of fire (2 Kings 2:11).

Place where Elijah is believed to have been taken up to heaven in chariots of fire,
the houses in the background are in Jericho

It appeared to be a beautiful afternoon and we wanted to make the most of having a vehicle and being in this area, so we headed up to Mt. Nebo, the place that God told Moses to ascend so that he could see the Promised Land before he died (Deuteronomy 32:48-52, 34:1-4).  It's incredible to think that Moses climbed this mountain when he was 120 years old and most likely without the path that we drove up on!  At the top there was a lookout point with the different cities labeled, a museum, and a sculpture of the serpent that Moses made and lifted high to heal the Israelites just like when we lift our eyes to Jesus and believe He is the one true Savior, we will have eternal life (Numbers 21:1-9 and John 3:14-15).  Unfortunately as we drove up the mountain the weather quickly changed and it started drizzling and becoming overcast.

Map of the Promised Land from Mount Nebo lookout

The view down into the Promised Land

Mom & kids in front of the Promised Land

Oldest with a sculpture symbolizing the serpent Moses made

Sign for Mt Nebo

Sun poking through the clouds over the Dead Sea

We returned to Amman and had dinner with our friends.  Wednesday morning we took the girls for the day and hoped to do something fun and a bit unusual.  Unfortunately, the weather didn't' cooperate, and in Amman when it rains, a lot of places are not open.  We opted for a couple of hours at an amusement park in a mall and then found a really fun walled-stable, fortress place that had restaurants, shops, and workshops.  This place was a hike, but it sounded unique and was some place the girls had not been.  Unfortunately, Google maps was wrong again, and after we drove 30 minutes to the destination and couldn't find anything that resembled a walled-fortress, we asked some locals who told us it was another 45 minutes away!  Moving forward we now compare both google and an app called Waze that locals say is better. By this time the kids were hungry, so we checked out a take-off of Buffalo Wild Wings called Wings and Rings and enjoyed a fun lunch before heading home for some school and rest.  That night we all reconnected for dinner and more fun before we parted ways as we were heading to Petra the following morning.

Amusement park rides

Awwww -having fun together again even if we can't find the walled fortress!