Day 2 – May 14, 2022

We were up early in the morning. Getting up for a 6 am departure was a challenge considering my late arrival, but it got us into the first archaeological site before anyone else arrived.

Jerash – We arrived at Jerash, one of the best restored Roman cities outside Italy, around 8 am. We were fortunate to be there before anyone else, which gave us some great opportunities to take photos and wander around this old city. There were 2 Roman amphitheaters, large multiple-tier fountains, a street flanked by large columns, and small buildings scattered throughout many acres.

It was impressive to see the size and scope of this excavation project and get a feel for what it would have been like around 162 AD when the temple ruins were dated to have been built.

Jordanian Cooking Class – A women’s cooperative sponsored by UNICEF, Gadventures, and a few other organizations was our next stop. A group of 50 women converted an old church into a location where they could teach tourists how to cook Jordanian dishes. Each person in our 12-person group dawned our aprons, grabbed a cutting board, and was instructed on how to make a delicious local meal.

Many of the spices and other ingredients were growing in the courtyard, and they even had a chicken coop where they were raising chickens. It was great to be a part of an activity that helped support women who found a need to support their families while using their passion for cooking and sharing their culture with others. They took the women in our group aside and privately showed them how to dance to some Arabic music energetically.

Dead Sea

We couldn’t resist taking some time to float in the Dead Sea. Not only is it the lowest place on earth at 422 meters or 1385 feet below sea level, but with such a highly concentrated salt content in the water, it takes no effort at all to float in the water. We went to a resort that bordered the sea and walked down to a beach area on the water. On this particular day at this location, it was 42 degrees Celsius and scorching hot. It was a relief to jump into the water and float around. I also took the opportunity to rub myself down with the therapeutic mud located in pots by the shore. Because you don’t really want to get your face into this salty water, I spent my second hour at the pool of the hotel resort.