Day 7: The Grand Finale

The last day of our kids' visit was EXTRA special.....Here's what we did....

Got up early, selected seats for the trip home....

Packed a lunch and headed south.  Dad wanted to stop at the Jabok river again to show everyone what it looks like in the daylight.  Five minute stop, then back on the road again, heading south to Amman, Madaba and Mt. Nebo.

Arrived at Mt. Nebo 3 hours later and took the tour.  Our GPS told us to go right, then go right again and then right again (around in a circle).  We were tempted to throw it out the window.  Good thing we could remember how to get there.

Here it is!  Mount Nebo!!

These two guys met us at the gate and offered to be our tour guides.  The guy on Dad's right told us he was 90 years old.  We chose him.

A great view!

It was a beautiful day and we could see Jericho in the distance.  

Moses was allowed to see the promised land but not go there.  They say he is buried nearby. 

Leaving Mt. Nebo, we drove south on a winding road that went down, down, down to the dead sea.  

 The further down we went, the warmer the temperature became until we reached Salt where is was 72 degrees!  We loved it.  This is part of the Jordan River Valley where most of the produce for this area grows.  I've never seen so many flies.

Notice the elevation:  -1080 feet below sea level.  

The river Jordan is quite small at this point because so much of the water is used upstream for watering crops.

We could see and wave to people across the river in Israel.

These people baptized themselves by bobbin up and down in the water.  They were all having a good time.  

We had a good time, too.

 The Dead Sea is very near the baptismal site and it was late afternoon when we got there.  The public beach wasn't the greatest, but it was free so that's where we went.  We didn't think the kids would actually go in.the water.  A group of Muslim women (all covered up) and their children were watching these crazy Americans in bathing suits.

The water is so salty and great for floating.  Watch out if you have a cut and don't get the water in your eyes--it really stings!  

Everybody piled back into the van for a 1-hour ride back to the Amman Center where there were warm showers.  Then a quick Chinese dinner and off to the Airport.

Goodbye!!  We had a great time.