Today, I went to both the baptism site Jesus Christ and the Dead Sea.  Each part was an amazing experience.

The site of Jesus’ baptism is an area in the Jordan River.  The whole area has more or less been turned into a very nice national park sort of setting full of guided tours, trails, and sitting/viewing areas.  There is also a Greek Orthodox church that is quite stunning inside.  Knowing that you are walking in an area where Jesus, John the Baptist, and many other prominent Biblical figures set foot and once lived certainly humbled me and allowed to appreciate how ancient this region of the world really is.

Additionally, walking around this area of Jordan gives you a perspective for how compacted the region is as the Jordan River is a natural border between Israel/the West Bank and Jordan.  Looking off into the distance you can see Jericho and Jerusalem sitting across the border.  An even more interesting sight though was when I stood in the Jordan River and saw about ten feet in front of me and Israeli border station with the Israeli flag on top flying in the wind.  In the Dead Sea, this recognition of the proximity that the Holy Land’s many ethnic groups have to each other stayed with me as I could still easily Israel on the other side of the body of water. 

Visiting the Dead Sea is an experience that everyone should have.  Being in the water is literally an indescribable feeling.  Walking into the water brings the same feeling you would have at any other beach; however, that all changes once you go into the water as you float without any effort. The coolest sensation is when you go to where the water is deep and makes you feel like a buoy as you get in a standing position and bob up and down.  Putting the sea’s mud on your skin is also a must as it cleanses you.