Day 7. March 26. 

We were up at 6.30am today for a 7.30am departure. I sleepily walk into the bathroom, look in the mirror and see that I've slept on my hand. I have an orangey brown print of my henna on my right cheek. I scrub and scrub and reduce the colour to a coffee stain. Fanfuckingstastic.

We pile into the car. First stop is a panoramic view of Showbak Castle, 40minutes later a panoramic view of Dana Nature Reserve (They recently revised the tour I’m on. You used to spend one night in Wadi Rum and and one night in Dana, but feedback for Dana was negative so they took out the over night stay. Dana did look scenic but nothing like Wadi Rum so I'm glad for the change). En route to Karak Castle we had an issue with a tyre and had a pit stop for a tyre change. Khalid (our driver) and Ahmed seemed genuinely concerned that this would result in some negative feedback. As if. We arrived at Karak Castle, I finally grasped just how old this building was when Ahmed pointed out the crusade entrance and the ottoman entrance. A quick tour of the castle and we were back in the car. Ahmed popped into a deli and got us all orange juices and falafel wraps to eat on the go, and we were Dead Sea bound. My ears would not stop popping as we descended toward the lowest point on earth and the water bottles started tightening. Peter was the first in. (Peter declared on day one, in the car to Wadi Rum, that he had two failings in life; he couldn't drive and he couldn't really swim or float). He floated. Peter 1- Dead Sea 0. Next to try was Anthea. Anthea has a fear of water so I offered to hold her back whilst she floated and she took up the offer and had a massive grin on her face- as soon as she had stepped out of the sea though. Hazel floated and I followed suit. Hazel was loving it, I, however, was not. My face would not stop stinging, I was so uncomfortable that I got out pretty quickly and headed to the swimming pool. I crossed paths with John as he headed in but didn't stop to see him float- shamefully. But, I can still tick floating in the Dead Sea off my list. Ahmed and Khalid sat in the shade the whole time, playing on their phones.

The last site to see is Mount Nebo. The rumoured burial ground of Moses. The road is long and windy and we followed this pick up truck with sheep in the back. Watching them try with all their might to keep their balances on every turn with the uphill climb was so adorable. At Mount Nebo, the story goes that Moses was instructed to climb the mountain and see all of the holy land, and that is where he died and was buried. The views are spectacular, especially after leaving the lowest point on earth to this grand mount with panoramic views. There's a few pieces of recent art work sculptures and a large piece of ancient mosaic on display. Today feels like one of those days where you manage to tick off so many ‘must sees’. 

We leave the mount and head to the hotel. Hazel and I get our room, get changed and head down for dinner. I feel like I've arrived in this hotel; pool, bar, restaurant, wifi. Turns out the clocks go back tonight so we all head to bed pretty quickly.