Jordan 2010

Oct 4, Petra, Jordan

As the 3 of us were all heading to Petra the next day we hired the same taxi driver to take us.  Expensive but allowed for extra stops. 

The first stop was at Hammemet Ma'in.  This is a hot spring but with a large water fall with hot water.  There are 3 or 4 pools as well.  Great place, with only 3 other people there!

Had a great soak, and super massage in the big water fall and in the water flowing from one pool to the next!

Next to Karak Castle.  This is a very strong looking castle on the hill.  Many underground tunnels to homes and also a church.  This castle was built in the 12th century.

Made a stop at the lookout over Wadi Dana, a large natural river bed.  Looked very nice and supposed to be some great hikes in the canyon.

Arrived at Petra about 6.  Another long day.

Went for dinner a Al-Deir restaurant.  The food was excellent!  And the guys working were great.  They spent a fair bit of time talking to us.  We were the only ones there.  We got some more ideas on great food and told to come back.  

Met a guy that works at the local 5 star hotel during the day and at this restaurant, his brothers at night!  Very nice.  He said that he would invite us to his home.

Then off to see Petra.  They have a show some nights where you walk in the entrance, which is about 3 km long, to a candle lit path!  Very interesting shadows on the cliff walls.

Then when you arrive at the Treasury the main monument, there are several candles in front.  Tried taking pictures but they did not turn out, but the candle light certainly gave the monument a strange look.  Very difficult to describe! 

Oct 3, Amman, Jordan

Signed up for tour at hotel.  Again a taxi for only 3 people.  Was with with a French woman and Portugues guy.  Great people and we had lots of laughs.  Both of them have done a lot of traveling.  Drove south tour include look at Wadi Majib.  Looked great except it was very hazy and could not see very far.  

Next to Madaba, and the Church of St George.  This church had a floor that was completely covered by a mosaic.  The mosaic was a picture of Jordan showing many of the sites.  It had been created about 1500 years ago and is very accurate.  They believe that it was used to direct people on there travels, during the Crusades and for merchants on the Silk road.

Next to Mount Nebo.  This is where Moses saw the holy land and buried.  Again the views not great.

Went to the Baptism place of Jesus on the Jordan River.  Interesting as the Jordanians believe theirs in the real site but then the Israelis believe the same thing.

Amazing that the river is only about 3 meters across.  Israel is right there.  The site on that side is much more developed.  Also we were watched by guards on both sides.

Then off to Dead Sea.  Again not really very busy.

This was quite the experience.  We walked in and when the bottom dropped, we did not sink!  Amazing!  Could actually float standing straight up with the water at chests.

Hilarious.  We were all laughing.  It is really amazing how easy it is to float.  Tried to go under but very difficult!  And the water really stung the eyes!  Apparently it is about 30% salt whereas most seas are about 5%.  Spent about 3 hours floating and of course taking a free mud bath!  Saved about $20 as we used the mud from the sea and not the packages sold in the shop!

Dead sea is the lowest place on earth, about 300 meters below sea level.

Oct 2, Amman, Jordan

Met Dutch girl at breakfast and we headed off to the Roman Theatre.  This place is huge as well.

There is a great museum in the theatre showing traditional dress, tools and jewelry.  Very interesting.

Next to the theatre is the parliment, which seats about 500.  Both sites in very good shape as they have been rebuilt.

Great as there are not many people around.

As we were leaving a local guy started telling where we should visit in Amman.  Was hilarious as I got the impression he was a local 'character'!  Found out later that he is well known.

Also ran into the guy from London and he joined us.

Hired a taxi to get us to the Citadel on top of the hill over looking the old part of Amman.  This covers a huge area and has been built up over about 1500 years.

Great museum that covers about 10,000 years.  They had some fossils of animals that were very old.

Leaving the Citadel hired another taxi to take us around the city for a couple of hours.  Went over a famous bridge, although I had never heard about it and around some of the rich parts of the city.

Got dropped off near a park.  But this park did not have any grass, but many trees.

Caught the bus back to centre.

Stopped at a small restaurant that the taxi driver recommended and had falafel!  Excellent food!  And for all 3 it was 3.50 dinar, about $5.

Oct 1, Amman, Jordan

Left london and arrived in Jordan about 11 pm.  Caught a taxi to Hotel but by this time it was almost 2 am.  Ended up talking to the night clerk for 30 minutes as he was working on a computer graphic design project for his homework.  He was designing an office, right down to the furniture.