May 11 - The Holy Land, Jordan


Today was our second day in Jordan.  And we headed out on a Holy Land guided tour. 

Our first stop, was to get our bearings, with respect to Sea Level

We then headed to the sight where John the Baptist baptized Jesus, and others.
That is Jericho in the distance.

John, the Baptist, lived in a cave in the vicinity of the Jordan River. He was always in hiding.

There is a little controversy over where the exact place John baptized Jesus, as the river has not been in a single constant location.

Site #1

Site #2 - Today's Jordan River


Jordanians and Israelites, both come to be baptized here on 'their' side of the river


This guy was observing all from the Israeli side - hmmmmm?!?

St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church


Then we were off to the Dead Sea - lowest point on Earth.


And Mount Nebo, where Moses lived out his final days, as he could see the promised land but was not allowed to enter


Moses' Spring

Much like the stone that was rolled across Jesus's tomb

Serpentine Cross Structure

Mosaic dating to 530AD 

 Madaba - early Byzantine Church of Saint George.

The Mosaic map of Madaba, Jordan. depicts an area from Lebanon in the north to the Nile Delta in the south, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Eastern Desert. It is the oldest surviving original cartographic depiction of the Holy Land especially Jerusalem.



Bedouin lifestyle is Nomadic. Although they all have houses, they choose to tend to their herds and crops on unused land, owed by others. It is a simpatico life.


Residences

Down Town

Land, pretty much like it was thousand of years ago
 

Yes, while at the airport or out in public I wore a scarf, or kept my hair up under my hat




Here are pictures of the St. Regis, my hotel




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