Wadi Mujib!

Alden went canyoning at Wadi Mujib today. He found it amazing.

Wadi Mujib is a fantastic narrow and very deep gorge that drains into the Dead Sea. It is in a nature reserve nearly a kilometer below sea level. The trail involved clamoring over rocks in a stream that varied from 1 foot to 5 feet deep. This "trail" was nearly entirely under water, and it ended at a 100 foot waterfall after 45 minutes or so of very leisurely walking. Good times, although Alden can't ever complain when he is running around in his silky patagonia boxers, sans pants.

Jordan is so dry his soaked tennis shoes were dry in just a couple of hours!

Next for Alden, it was up to Mt. Nebo by way of the Dead Sea Panorama. Pretty views all around. Mt. Nebo was from where Moses saw the Promised Land, and promptly died. While indeed breathtaking, Alden didn't die.

To get off of Mt. Nebo Alden took a cab with a true con artist of a driver. He first mocked Alden's beard, then attempted to get Alden's sister's phone number, because he "wants a Green Card to work USA" as a driver. Alden's sister shouldn't worry; he gave the driver Foxy's number instead. JK!

Dinner in the town of Madaba, (Humos Libani is making Alden fat), and then a local bus back to Amman. Less than a dollar for the 45 minute ride.

Tonight's Random Observations: Alden is terrified watching all the little European (and Chinese!) cars tempting fate, and oddly the cops are cruising around in huge Ford Crown Victorias or Chevy Trailblazers.

Alden is still not used to riding in the front seat of a cab. He ALWAYS wears a seat belt. (Woman, if alone, ride in the back.) Catching a cab near the bus stop isn't a good idea: Alden looks like a Gringo, and the cabbies try to rip him off. "Meter crazy" or "meter broken," yeah, Alden will just walk then, thankyouverymuch.

Alden is going to attempt to score shotgun for the drive up to Dimashq... and luckily he has a random family friend connection to help negotiate a fair price, inshallah!