The Dead Sea

Everyone knows about the Dead Sea, so saturated with salt that you float without trying. But they always omit one vital bit of information. The flies. Swarms of them. So no, not my favourite experience of the holiday. Indeed even floating in the Dead Sea was disconcerting. Very hard to swim and because you float its hard to get all your body under the water. And anything that remains above the surface fries.

Much nicer to retreat back to the swimming pools just in from the beach. But as soon as you get out and get dry, the flies attack. Ok so they don't bite, but the constant crawling sensation irritates the hell out of you.

Dead Sea is quite scenic though, and got a few nice photos across to Israel (or the Occupied Territories if you prefer). And stood where Moses was supposed to have viewed the Promised Land. Unfortunately now a picnic site and the locals have a bad litter habit. Also passed the official site where John the Baptist performed baptism, official as the last pope declared it was. Papal infallibility is a great thing. If only he could ever get a moral question right...

Now in Petra, a "village" totally dependent on the tourist trade. Over 60 hotels, all full this time of year and all promising to disgorge their contents tomorrow on the unsuspecting ruins of the Rose Red City. Will try to beat them there - 7am start so have set alarm for 5.30am. Worse than work this...