Dead Sea Scrolls and More

This will be my last post about our recent travels but I couldn't miss the opportunity to share with you the things we saw and listened to on our last day and evening in Jordan. One of the most beautiful things we experienced was watching the sun set over Amman (formerly known as Philadelphia), while listening to the call to prayer. We tried to film and record the event but had technical difficulties so instead I am sharing a clip from YouTube that will give you an idea of the beautiful echoing sounds during the call to prayer.

On the last day of our trip, we set out to visit the site where Christ was baptized, where Elijah ascended into the heavens and to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. Our first stop was to visit the Dead Sea. It is just a 45 minute drive to get to the resort area and during parts of the drive you are on Israel's border. Of course while relaxing on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea, you are looking at Israel across the sea. The day we were there is was a bit cool - in the low 60s - but the temperature didn't stop the mud bathers.
We went on to the baptism site. While the Jordan River divides Israel and Jordan, the actual baptism site where John the Baptist, baptized Christ has been confirmed by the Church to be in Jordan. The river has decreased in size because of industrialization. Below is a picture of the baptism site and the Jordan River.

We traveled on to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. The various scrolls were found hidden in a number of caves on the northern end of the Dead Sea. In the Museum of Archeology in Amman fragments of some of the paper scrolls along with copper scrolls are on display. These scrolls confirm the text of the Old Testament and are estimated to be written in 300 B.C.

In other posts I will share stories and even recipes highlighting the food of Lebanon. For now I am going to cap my adventures and try to get grounded back in the States.