2 minute read
FIRE & INNOCENCE
A family of five explores the desert landscapes of Jordan
by SASHA BROWN-WORSHAM
“How can it be so brown?” my 12-year-old daughter asked as our plane descended from the clouds. In just six hours, we’d gone from lush, green Heathrow to this incredible bisque-colored expanse.
“We are in the desert now, baby,” my husband explained, as our family of fi ve –Mom and Dad, Samara (12), Alan (11), Adara (5) – touched down in sunbaked Amman, Jordan. Bilal, our guide for the next 10 days, met us at the gate, instantly charming Adara. “In Arabic, your name means innocence,” he told her. “In Hebrew, it means fi re. Which one are you?”
“Defi nitely fi re,” Adara said. We all nodded in agreement. Defi nitely fi re.
For the next week, we explored ancient stadiums and the ruins of Jerash in Northern Jordan. Then famous Petra, where we walked 40,000 steps in a single day and marveled at the artistry of the Rose City. “This defi nitely isn’t overrated,” our oldest said.
“This is the life,” Alan agreed when we arrived at our bubble hotel, where each air-conditioned bubble bedroom comes with an outdoor hot tub. Sitting in his own private bath overlooking the Petra Mountains, my son felt like a king.
My husband and I would miss that hot tub on a three-hour (stirrup-less) camel trek in Wadi Rum the next day. “I can’t feel my legs,” we both said at one point, laughing so hard tears ran down our faces. Our kids laughed too, but their
light little bodies had no such issues— they loved every second.
Later, we climbed sand dunes, racing each other to the top, then falling to the sand, hysterical with laughter and out of breath. Aft er dark, we had a Bedouin feast, which included meat buried in the ground, soft bread, and all the hummus, baba ganoush, and vegtables we could manage. The children made friends and danced traditional dances until they were out of breath with the fun of it all.
By the time we reached the Dead Sea, we were satisfi ed. Bobbing above the water in the salt-saturated sea, we marveled at how light our bodies felt. “This is the best trip ever,” Alan told us our last night.
