Before leaving Wadi Rum we had one more activity – the best of all in my opinion. We got to ride camels out into the desert. It was a blast, and after that initial crazy back and forth as the camel rises from his squat on the sand, the ride was very comfortable. I was even riding no hands.
The camel jaunt took a bit longer than planned so we were rushed through a late breakfast and then hustled onto the bus to head for the Dead Sea.
We drove for about four hours or so with a couple of rest stops. The land was mainly arid and sandy but as we approached Amman we began to see more green – olive plantations and wealthy homes surrounded by cypress and other trees.
Just before hitting the outskirts of Amman, we headed west for the Kempinski Ishtar Resort on the Dead Sea. It turned out to be a sprawling complex with numerous pools, villas and dining areas. There is a spa that probably costs an arm and a leg. I have not found Jordan to be any cheaper than Israel.
Our room is huge with a lovely big lanai but I would point out that there is a distinct lack of electric outlets. In this day and age they are a necessity due to our dependence on our gadgets.
We were fed a late lunch that was over the top in amounts. There were four full servings of different meats along with rice and, of course, it was all preceded with the usual appetizers – for me the best part.
We rested in our rooms then Lucy, Jan and I went exploring. This place is really like a labyrinth. We got a bit confused but did find a number of pools. The views from everywhere are incredible.
