Jordan Trip – Day 6

The light Thursday schedule allowed Sam to sleep in until about 9:30. Meanwhile, Dad and Pete walked over to the ATM, where they discovered that Ajab Bank charges 5 JD while InvestBank only charges 1 JD. Score one for the good guys. 



The first stop for the day's exploring was the Greek Orthodox Church in Madaba. 



Nobody felt like paying 1 JD (about $1.50 US) to see a mosaic in the church proving the travels of Jesus, so they went down to the archaeological park where the Jordan Pass got hem in for free to climb around a bunch of mosaics from early AD, while the call to prayer blasted from all of the local mosques in the background. 



They did finally purchase a plate from a vendor on King Talal Street. The shopkeeper said it was 20 JD (“50% off”). Dad offered 15. He said “you do not understand; these are from a factory, so the prices are absolutely fixed 100%... ok I give it to you for 18.” Mom bought a refrigerator magnet with the black iris national flower for 5 JD. The next stop was Mount Nebo for a quick view of the vista where Moses had his spring, and the other side where he saw the promised land. The following 30 minutes was a series of steep hairpin curves down to the Dead Sea. The day passes at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel were only 10 JD. They went straight to the snack bar for some pizza, burger, and chicken sandwiches. 



The food took forever to arrive, but the American explicit rap music playing on the speaker helped to pass the time. They changed and walked down to the Dead Sea. Sam had no problem floating – a miracle indeed! 



Mom applied the mud some to her arms and legs. Dad spotted a new species of water bug. Dad’s eye was burning, so he got out after just a few minutes. On the walk back up the hill, it was interesting to see how far the sea level had fallen since 2000. They showered and went up to sit by the pool for a while. Pete, Sam, and Dad tossed around the football and then the tennis ball, which miraculously hit the railing and deflected back a few times. Dad had told the boys a few days earlier the famous saying that almost applied here: “if you drop your keys in the lava, they’re gone”. 



They drove back to Amman in time for dinner at the embassy cafeteria – salmon, ribs, and burgers – with the whole gang, as well as Andy, and Nick’s friends Max, Max, and Oscar. The boys went back to the house for some dining-room-table ping pong, while Mom, Nicole, and Dad went to the 24-hour bakery, spice shop, and t-shirt shop (to look for a camel t-shirt for Sam).