Madaba and the Dead Sea

Madaba

We set off at 7am to drive to Madaba, home of the most famous Byzantine mosaics. We visited the greatest and most significant of all the city’s treasures, the wonderful mosaic map of ancient Palestine, which is located on the floor of the 6thC Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. The 6th century AD map, hailed as the oldest in existence, was depicted for the benefit of the pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land, as it represented the surrounding regions as well. We lunched at the Haret Jdoudna Village restaurant with traditional mezza appetisers and oven baked Sawani dishes (chicken with potato & herbs plus Kofta minced meat with Tahina-sesame or tomato). Then we visited a workshop where they created mosaic pictures.

Mount Nebo

We then headed to Mount Nebo which dates back to the time of the Prophet Moses, around 12thC BC. It is believed to be the site of the Prophet’s burial place and from where he viewed the Holy Land.

Dead Sea

We arrived at the Movenpick Resort & Spa on the Dead Sea where I took a relaxing ‘float’ in the sea. The sea is free of any life forms and is believed to provide healing properties with the mud on the sea bed being rich in minerals. It is possible to smear the body with mud and then laze in the sea to soak it off.