Jordan Galleries

Wadi Rum : Wadi Rum is one of Jordan's most important tourist destinations and the place where much of Lawrence of Arabic was filmed. In fact, Lawrence of Arabia was based here during part of the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottomans. Wadi Rum is now Jordan's candidate for the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum is one of Jordan's most important tourist destinations and th ...

Updated: Jan 25, 2009 9:06pm PST

Petra : I have read and seen pictures about Petra my whole life, but was clearly unprepared for the sheer magnitude of the awesome site, the spectacular natural setting, and the harmonious juxtaposition of human and natural elements. Photos really do no justice to Petra, as this is a place that must be experienced. We've all seen pictures of Petra's famous "Treasury" but seeing it in person causes your imagination run wild, dream about its 2000 year history, and appreciate its location nestled at the end of the narrow "Siq." Beyond the Treasury, Petra features the even larger "Monastery," hundreds of varied tombs, a Roman-style theatre, a Roman Road, and countless other treasures. Arriving in the evening on New Year's Day 2009, our first experience of Petra was through the "Petra by Night" experience, where the entire Siq is illuminated with candles and literally thousands of tourists stroll down through the canyon to their first encounter with the Treasury. On January 2, we had a full day tour of Petra, and I fortunately had several hours to venture off on my own to experience the Monastery, get off the beaten path, and consider the paradox of how significant and insignificant man really is. Settlements arose in Petra around 1500 BC, and it became the capital of the Nabataean kingdom around the 6th century BC. It was absorbed into the Roman Empire in 106 AD under which it continued to flourish until a major earthquake struck in 663. After Saladin conquered the Holy Land in the late 12th century, Petra was completely abandoned. Three decades after the Nabataean capital was "rediscovered" by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, the English divine John William Burgon wrote the following poem about Petra in 1845: It seems no work of Man's creative hand, by labor wrought as wavering fancy planned; But from the rock as if by magic grown, eternal, silent, beautiful, alone! Not virgin-white like that old Doric shrine, where erst Athena held her rites divine; Not saintly-grey, like many a minster fane, that crowns the hill and consecrates the plain; But rose-red as if the blush of dawn, that first beheld them were not yet withdrawn; The hues of youth upon a brow of woe, which Man deemed old two thousand years ago, match me such marvel save in Eastern clime, a rose-red city half as old as time.

Petra

I have read and seen pictures about Petra my whole life, but was clear ...

Updated: Jan 14, 2009 10:11am PST

Jerash : Jerash, once known as Gerasa or Antioch on the Golden River, is Jordan's second most popular tourist destination after Petra. Jerash is considered one of the best preserved and important Roman cities of the Middle East and has been nicknamed "Pompeii of the Middle East." Jerash's human history dates to 4500 BC. Jerash became an urban center in the 3rd century BC and started to flourish after the Greek conquest by Alexander the Great.. The Romans conquered Jerash in 63 BC, and Jerash later experienced significant growth and wealth under emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Jerash has been very well preserved and is listed on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. You can visit its paved and colonnaded streets, soaring temples, elaborate theatres, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls. http://wikitravel.org/en/Jerash December 31, 2008.

Jerash

Jerash, once known as Gerasa or Antioch on the Golden River, is Jordan ...

Updated: Jan 13, 2009 9:53pm PST

Mt. Nebo and Madaba : On January 1, 2009, our group left Amman to visit important Christian sites: 1) Mt Nebo, where Moses is said to have viewed the promised land after escaping Egypt. Moses is also supposedly buried at Mt Nebo, but the location of his tomb is unknown. Mt. Nebo offers amazing views of the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and the West Bank. From Mt. Nebo, one can view Jerusalem, Bethleham, and Jericho. 2) Madaba, or the "City of Mosaics." The City is famous for its high concentration of ancient mosiacs (from as far back as the 5th Century) found in churches, museums and private homes. The highlight of Madaba is the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, built in 1896 over the remains of a 6th Century Byzantine Church. Today, you can still gaze in awe at the famous 6th Century map of the Holy Land. This well preserved mosaic consists of over 2 million stones forming the world's oldest known map of Palestine, featuring areas such as Jersualem, Bethleham and areas as far as the Nile Delta.

Mt. Nebo and Madaba

On January 1, 2009, our group left Amman to visit important Christian ...

Updated: Jan 13, 2009 9:22pm PST

Krak de Montreal (Shobak Crusader Castle) : Krak de Montreal (Shobak) is a very remote Crusader castle, about an hour north of Petra. Our guide Aiman recommended we visit it instead of the more famous Kerak, to avoid crowds and appreciate how well preserved Shobak is. It was built in 1115 by King Baldwin of Jerusalem and named "Krak de Montreal" in honour of the king's contribution to its construction. While its location today is remote and raises question, back then, it was strategically located along the main pilgrimage and caravan route between Syria and Arabia, allowing Baldwin to control local commerce. After conquering Jerusalem in 1187, Saladin captured Shobak from the Crusaders in 1189. We visited Shobak on a very cold New Year's Day, 2009. http://www.shawbak.net/

Krak de Montreal (Shobak Crusader Castle)

Krak de Montreal (Shobak) is a very remote Crusader castle, about an h ...

Updated: Jan 13, 2009 8:47pm PST

Ajloun Castle : December 31, 2008. My first stop in Jordan was the Ajloun Castle, built by Saladin's nephew in 1184 to control the local iron mines and deter the Crusaders. According to visitjordan.com, Ajloun Castle protected the communication routes between south Jordan and Syria, and was one of a chain of forts which lit beacons at night to pass signals from the Euphrates to as far as Cairo. The castle is one of the best preserved and most complete examples of medieval Arab-Islamic military architecture. Tradition has it that an ancient Christian monastery formely stood on the exact site of the castle and was once inhabited by a monk named Ajloun. After the monastery fell into decay, it was eventually replaced by the castle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajlun_Castle

Ajloun Castle

December 31, 2008. My first stop in Jordan was the Ajloun Castle, b ...

Updated: Jan 13, 2009 8:21pm PST