Jordan - the Dead Sea and Jesus' Baptism Site

Our first day in Jordan, we went to the site of Jesus' baptism, and swam in the Dead Sea.  In retrospect, it wasn't one of the most impressive days of our trip, which says a lot because it was actually quite impressive.

The site of Jesus' baptism is on the River Jordan which happens to be a somewhat important and contentious international border, and so you are packed onto a bus with other sightseers and driven there, rather than driving in your own car or taxi directly to the site.  The picture below is before we got onto the bus, but is included because her feet aren't touching the ground and her smile is wide.

This was our first site of the Jordan. It's not as impressive as you would expect in most parts, which is apparently due to agriculture.  Also:  the water looks more like dirt than water.

This is the relatively recently discovered site of Jesus' actual baptism. The river no longer flows here, but did. There are lots of reasons that they are certain that this is the actual site. The guide offered to let me go down and touch the stones but I didn't feel like giving him any money so I declined.

THIS is the most fascinating part of the experience. See all those people?  They are in ISRAEL.  We could have easily spoken to each other.  But.  The river is the border so we are in different countries.  See the people baptising themselves in the water? They wear big white t-shirts.  And it was cold!

See Jericho behind them and to the left?

This is - obviously - the Dead Sea.  It is such a strange experience to swim there, because you can't actually swim...You just sort of bob around.

Rubbing dead sea mud on ourselves...

or throwing dead sea mud.

See all the salt??