Black View
I have spent the last few days being a lazy slob here in Madaba. As good as Jordan is I have run out of things to do and places to go combined with that “I want to move on” feeling.
But I really like Madaba and this hotel with its wi-fi and I always seem to enjoy these forced breaks so all is very fine indeed.
I did the day trip up to Jerash then I went to a small small town called Umm Qais (Oom-Case) which has some modest but very good ruins, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. What made some of the ruins more interesting was the use of a local black stone (basalt?) which you can see in some of the photos. And the setting up high on a ridge was very good. From this one point I could see all the ‘exciting’ places in the region including Israel, the West Bank, the Jordan Valley, the Golan Heights and my current favourite, Syria!
After two nights in Umm Qais where I was able to watch the lunar eclipse, I went to see some Roman ruins at Pella. Nice location but so so ruins so no photos here, just some photos of Umm Qais.
This my friends is likely to be my last post from Jordan, I fly to London on the 21st (thankyou Syria) and spend 6 days there getting organised, drinking ‘normal’ coffee and eating curries.
Cats outside the local chicken shop. This must be a daily ritual.
Jerash
OK, I admit it, I am a lazy so and so too lazy to type much and just letting the photos do the talking. Better for you, I know you’re thinking that!
Jerash is a town in northern Jordan I visited today to see some pretty good Roman ruins.
Shobak
Shobak lies between two of Jordans better know tourist attractions, the world famous Petra (where I just arrived) and Dana, a gem that I am unsure how know it is. Shobak has plenty to offer but is not set up that well to take advantage of the tourist zipping through only some of who bother to stop to see the castle.
I arrived in the morning unsure if I would stay, but I did which proved a good move. The campground was definitely ‘rustic’ run by a very friendly family and the castle was great. Shobak even has plenty of old buildings just like Dana and at night the castle is lit up, I’m sure this is not well known fact.
Down in the gorge
Today I spent many pleasant hours hiking down into the gorge, this is a Reserve which is protected although Bedouins are allowed to tend their goats and camels and live in their tents. I was lucky enough to see three of whatever the local antelopes are called “Cy-et” being the Arabic name.
The Bedouin goat herders thought it a good thing when I told them I once had goats and that I ate one of them.
So a very good day indeed and who knows, I will hopefully get the hang on blogging on my phone and at least blog more even though I have no idea about controlling the layout.
Dana
Found the dream village which is tiny, away from everything and clinging to the edge of a spectacular gorge. Even the hotel is tiny and rustic and cheap. I’m staying 3 nights and likely to return later in the trip. Sunny and warm at 34c, Bedouin goat herders down in the gorge and a man with his 6 camels, this place is great
“Welcome Travelling”
“Welcome Travelling” are the words I heard someone say as I walked along a street in Madaba, a small town not far from Amman. It was a man sitting in a car and when I turned around I worked out what he said and thanked him.
With very limited English he wanted to welcome me a visitor to his country. This little act of kindness sums up the wonderful people of Jordan. Kind, generous, helpful and very very friendly.
Sometimes I instantly love a country and it is usually because of the people.
Amman,Jordan
I am typing on a broken keyboard with worn out letters. In the ugly city of Amman, Jordan. What a pain.
I am now travelling without my laptop and just using my shiny new iphone. Working out how to blog may take some time.
