"I'm goin' down to the River Jordan"

Continuing on our trip to Jordan, the next day took us to the Jordan River and the site where they believe Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.

They are still working on the reconstruction of the churches that have been built over the centuries at this sacred site.  As you can imagine the recovery is painstakingly slow to preserve the integrity of the details like these beautiful mosaic tiles.

This is how they envision the site and 

the structure in the foreground is where they think Jesus was actually baptized.  I don't know what I was expecting but I didn't think it would be so simple and unadorned.  If it were anywhere else in the world, it would be a Disneyland ride - think, The Jordan Baptismal Slide!  I think Jesus would have liked it the way it is now!  

This is actually the Jordan River!  I remember the first time I saw the Alamo in San Antonio, I was shocked.  I envisioned it being a huge fortress and it's actually a simple little chapel.  I kind of got the same feeling here BUT I wasn't disappointed.

It's literally only a few feet wide at this point and is evaporating at an alarming rate due to national water projects on both sides of the river further upstream.  As the flow from the River Jordan decreases, the level of the Dead Sea has decreased, too, since the Jordan River feeds into it.  However, there is a huge and long-term project underway to connect the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea to prevent the evaporation. 

Lucky for tourists and followers, there is still plenty of "holy water" for the taking.  I took some directly out of the river in an empty water bottle.  Glad I didn't fall in while doing so!

St. John the Baptist Church at the Jordan River - a Greek Orthodox church.

Mount Nebo is one of the most revered holy sites of Jordan, located just west of the Roman Byzantine town of Madaba, for this is where Moses is buried and below was his view of

the Promised Land.

The Serpentine Cross is symbolic of the bronze serpent taken by Moses into the desert, and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.

Today, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth at 400 feet below sea level. Fresh water flowing downstream through the Jordan River empties into the terminal lake. Having no exit point, the Dead Sea water evaporates, causing salts to accumulate in the lake and in its sediments. As a result, the Dead Sea's salt concentration is about 33 percent, compared to 3 percent in the Mediterranean.

With the Dead Sea in the background, we took advantage of the health and beauty advantages that the mud from the Dead Sea is purported to have.

They have it set up nicely, with fresh buckets of mud readily available and mirrors placed strategically so as not to miss any spots.  Now, look at this picture carefully - do you see the woman in the mirror?  Where is she?  And where is the reflection of the guy applying mud to his face?  Very strange.....

Voila! Here we are soaking up the wonders of the Dead Sea!  Aren't we a lovely foursome?  Did we miss any spots?  After letting the mud sufficiently dry and work it's wonders, 

we took a dip in the sea, where the density of the saltwater made it virtually impossible to drown.  It was a very strange sensation.  I have to report that indeed my skin felt as soft as a baby's bottom after our natural spa treatment!

And, a final view of the Dead Sea at sunset and a fond farewell to our adventure in the amazing, welcoming country of Jordan.