Jordan border, Jerash, Dead Sea

We left Nazareth at 7.30 and after an hour at the border headed up into the Jordanian mountains of Gilead and up to the fortress of Ajlun. (The coach took the climb at such a speed, there were unpleasant consequences for those sat at the back of the bus!)

Maha our Jordanian guide has explained many things about Jordan and its landscape to us ... the rich, green, fertile area we passed through makes up only one per cent of Jordan's landscape. The agricultural land though provides work for a third of the Jordanian population of six million.

We then spent a fascinating couple of hours at the Roman city of Jerash. It is more complete than any other Roman city remains in the world (having theatre, temples, streets and plaza).

Then it was just a further two hours to plunge down to the lowest point on earth, at the Dead Sea ... for bathing, mud covering, and relaxing in the most luxury we'll find all holiday. It was Janet's birthday, and perhaps that was the excuse for many of the party having at least six desserts.