Wadi Musa to Amman

You may have noticed my travel posts have been sharper. These are still my observations, but they've been refined and polished with the help of AI.

Today’s journey began with a stop at Little Petra (Siq al-Barid). The walk across the deep sand was a challenge, as my legs were still protesting after yesterday’s taxing 13-mile hike. Little Petra is actually believed to be chronologically newer than its famous neighbor, Petra. Yet, to the eye, it felt older; the rock carvings and façades here possessed a rawer, less refined finish compared to the intricate, polished precision found in the main city.

Our early stop at Little Petra gave Amer, my driver, the perfect opportunity to take his favorite back route to the Dead Sea—where a highly anticipated 'cork bob' and lunch awaited.
Instead of the wide, four-lane national highway we took to Wadi Musa, this route cut through the mountains, offering a thrilling, intimate glimpse into the lives of the local Bedouin residents. The road was incredibly narrow, steep, and winding; in places, I genuinely wondered if it was wide enough for a single car. At one memorable point, we rounded a bend and came up behind two Bedouins on horseback, skillfully herding a large flock of goats down the road with the efficient help of several dogs.

As we exited the mountain road and descended into the plains, we drove through a vast rubble field—miles of dark, jagged rock, a clear testament to an ancient volcanic eruption in the region.
As we approached the Dead Sea from the south, Amer pointed out the military observation stations marking the Jordan-Israel border. From the road, we had a clear view across the divide and into Israel itself.
On this southern end, a large industrial complex dominates the shoreline. Here, salt and other minerals are actively extracted from the Dead Sea water. This industrial extraction, occurring on both sides of the border, combined with the diversion of most of the Jordan River’s flow to supply cities like Amman, has a severe consequence: the sea’s water level is dropping measurably every single year.

Finally reaching the Dead Sea, the water felt slick and warm. The moment I waded in and lay back, I experienced the legendary 'cork bob.'
The hyper-saline water gripped me, making sinking impossible. I floated effortlessly, arms and legs barely submerged, feeling completely weightless—a human buoy suspended in the lowest place on Earth. It was the strangest physical sensation.Leggi altro