April 2009 Trip to Jordan

(click on thumbnails to view larger picture)

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Amman - Trip to desert castles -  This morning we visit the city's great Amphitheatre built by Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD),  Has 33 rows and seats 5000.

Onto the desert castles east of Amman. The castle at Azraq dates back to Roman times and was used by T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) as his desert headquarters. Other castles date to the Omayyad rulers of the 7th & 8th Centuries.

Stopped at a desert tent where we were served tea.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Drive 5 hours from Amman to Aquaba on the Red Sea.  In the afternoon was a snorkeling trip to see coral and tropical fish.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Wadi Rum and Petra - In the afternoon we visited the deserts of Wadi Rum and enjoyed a jeep safari through some of the most spectacular areas. In the evening we had an evening excursion to Petra.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Petra - a full 8-hour day in Petra, built by the Nabateans in 100 BC, was prominent during Roman times, and was featured in the last scenes of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."  The pictures on the first row show the cliff entrance to the site.  The next row and first several pictures on the third row show the feature known as "The Treasury". Other pictures on the third,  fourth, and fifth  row show a series of royal tombs. The site also features a Byzantine church (5th century) with beautiful mosaics (fourth and fifth rows).

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Kerak, Dead Sea, Mt. Nebo, Madaba - First a visit to the Crusader castle of Kerak, then onto a buffet lunch and floating in the Dead Sea. Next visiting Mt. Nebo (place where Moses died), and finally the town of Madaba where we visited a mosaic factory. Onto Amman for overnight.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Jerash - 1 hour outside of Amman is the ancient Roman town of Jerash, one of the best preserved towns of ancient Rome.  They also had a gladiator show in the site.