Middle East Day 3: Dead Sea

Woke up around 10 or 11. Whoops. Checkout is noon. Packed up our bags, checked out of the hotel, dropped our bags in the car and headed down the street for some pizza. Had a fantastic meat pizza before heading back to the hotel where the front desk staff recommended a day pass to holiday inn which provides access to the Dead Sea , pools , showers, amenities.

Hit the road for our 3 hour drive to the resorts of the Dead Sea. Not sure which way google brought ya but to get out of Petra we were going up some pretty steep hills with sharp corners (and matt killed the car a couple times too— the clutch was crap). But before long we were high up on the mountains overlooking the beginning of the Dead Sea. The lowest place on earth. 480 meters below sea level. We kept driving and decided to stop at the Dead Sea spa (day pass was 20JOD vs 45JOD at the holiday inn). We got changed and set out for the private beach at the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea has been evaporating quickly, it had retreated a solid quarter mile or more. But we claimed a bench and walked carefully over rock and pebbles to enter the Dead Sea. They weren't joking about the buoyancy. You could relax on your back without a fuss. Had our pictures taken together. Enjoyed rubbing mud all over ourselves and getting in to rinse off. Then we went up too to the pool to relax, then hopped out to shower just in time to see sunset. Absolutley beautiful. Then happy hour started. We had 2 for 1 white Jordanian wine and ordered some nachos and a meat plate. All of the food was very tasty. Met a PA that works the emergency room at Abbott with Dave Gurda. And before long it was 8pm and time to start the 1 hour drive to Amman in hopes of catching the 1130pm flight direct to Cairo. Dropped the car off no problem and went to check in to find out the plane was wide open. Got exit row, bags checked with priority and we waited the hour to begging boarding. We did hit up the duty free shop as alcohol in egypt is rather difficult to find and we learned we could bring our own onboard the Nile cruise. Grabbed a bottle of stoli gold and Johnny Walker black. Boarded the plane and thanked the flight crew with USA M&Ms enjoyed our inflight snack box and was thanked by the crew with a bottle of champagne and nuts to take away.

Landed in Cairo after one hour, booked a hotel at the airport as it was almost midnight. Bought our 25$ visa and walked 20minuyes out of the way in a loop to get to the hotel. Checked in and they agreed to a late check out of 2pm (next day was simply arrive to Cairo day) enjoyed a stella bier from the fridge and oir champagne. Repacked our bags and passed out. Get to Cairo hotel and hang out with Alaa's friends the next day.