Resting at the Dead Sea

We made these plans through an agent in Beirut, and find ourselves in the most elegant hotel at the edge of the incredibly blue sea. The heat is almost unbearable - we're 1300 feet below sea level, in a bowl surrounded by Jordanian hills on the east, and Israel on the west. The heat evaporates the water and leaves a film on everything. And the gardens are wonderful, everything blooming and smelling sweet, like syrup over all this. We were hot and hadn't eaten for hours, and found our rooms cool and appointed. After bathing and calming down, we ventured out, ate a snack and did reconnaissance. Found the sea of course, filmed with minerals and salt, the large pool with zero-horizon, so when you swim you have the feeling you're joining the horizon. Back in the rooms we had drinks, bathed again, then went to the belly dance, a cabaret-style floor-show with a beat-box, and an audience full of head-scarfed women and their men and children, smoking water pipes and sipping coffee. Later the Romanian duo: the woman in a very short, very tight white skirt, and the man in baggy linen slacks. All the hits.

This morning Leslie and I bathed early in the Dead Sea, making our way gingerly over the mineral encrusted rocks, my cracked feet burning from the salts. But what a feeling, floating like rubber, early morning sun already blasting the Israeli banks with white hot light. Then we swam, found the girls and ate what has to be the most elegant breakfast we've ever had. Breakfast foods from all places, meats, breads, eggs of all sorts, foul, labneh, salted cheese and fish, pastries, everything for everyone.

Leslie is convinced she could live in Jordan. We have seen such empty space, and most places people have been very open, albeit we've been sort of secluded in the places we've been. But there is something very attractive about this country. The Bedouin presence is everywhere and romantic. The politics seem stable with the young King Abdullha doing his part to take over from his father. We passed through 3 checkpoints which was surprising to men, until we were asked if we were Israeli, and then it made sense. Israel is less than 10 miles away, and if you look closly, you can make out the large bore guns pointed west. But friendly none the less.

We stay here awhile longer, then pack it up and drive back to Amman to catch our flight home. This has been a tough trip hiking through the desert of Petra, but we'll go home rested, and ready to make whatever sense can be made about the new government in Lebanon.

Comments

[Khalil Amin]

Well, Mr. or dude, or what should i call you, actually i don't know if you reading my name would make you remember who am i, well i am khalil the guy that works at Bits & Bytes internet cafe, well not too much comments to say for i know nothing about you, your sweet lady, or your lovely daughters, but i guess from what i've seen allow me to say you are one holla one in a million family, i just wish you are going to be sticking always together this way, for actually you can barely find this kind of european or american families :)

This website is really good, and im really proud for you loved Lebanon, and i hope we are going to keep in touch and hey waitting you in 2 years :) or maybe im going to catch you in san francisco for im going ot be in california in few months, if just the embassy gives me the visa :) anyways you take care of yourself and have fun wherever you are and don't forget taking a very good care of your family :)

Love,
Khalil