Living in a tent

Last year, for the first time, I stayed in a hotel in Jordan instead of in a tent, and it was pure luxury. I stayed in a room with my son Aidan, and we had our own bathroom. We could have someone change our sheets and make our beds if we asked, and the decor was interesting and tasteful. Our clean lab was in the hotel, and it had a beautiful indoor/outdoor restaurant. All in all, it was a splendid experience.

However, this year we cannot do the same thing. First, the hotel is now managed by a different and private firm, that has increased the price per room out of our range. Second, it required 40 minutes to reach the Eco lodge from our survey area, and when combined over a season, such commuting amounted to about 3 working days. Third, we had no control over what food was served, and sometimes it was pretty dire. Finally, the rooms were not equipped with fans, and so sometimes it got suffocatingly hot.



Instead, this coming summer we will be staying in tents on land owned by the Department of Antiquities. I have stayed there over six seasons, one of which lasted 3 months. I know it very well, and in many ways am looking forward to it. First, we will buy tents, cots, mattresses, and not have to pay rent. We are very close to the sites we are excavating next summer. Aladdin will be in charge of food, and will ensure good, wholesome, clear food that is consistently tasty and nutritious. At night, we can pull our cots out of our tents under a full canopy of stars, and sleep in relative comfort. Furthermore, we have a large flat area to play baseball, ultimate frisbee, soccer, and football. It is our space, and so it is fine that people wear shorts and T-shirts.

Perhaps most of all, a tent camp allows the development of a community that was not really possible in the Eco-lodge. Some of the best times of my life have been living in those tent camps.