Ah, Jordan. For years, I wanted to go--and now finally, we went. Let me tell you, it was everything I thought it would be and then some. It still amazes me that such a small country can have so much in it--and such diversity in its landscape and populace. From rolling green hills with olive trees to rocky mountains to endless deserts--from women in bikinis to women in burqinis--from Jordanian wines to non-alcoholic malt beers--Jordan can't be typified. You just have to experience it. And I recommend you do.
Jordan is far. So we flew on British Airways with bookend stopovers in London. On our flight back to Chicago, we were upgraded to Business Class. It was a very nice surprise, although to be honest, while its Economy Class is outstanding, its Business Class is a bit lacking. It was a fantastic free upgrade, but we would never use miles or pay to fly BA's Business Class. Trust me though--it was a free upgrade--I'm not complaining. Once we arrived in Jordan, taxis were the mode of transportation, even for a 5-hour drive to Petra with stops along the way. It is possible to walk around Amman, but be prepared for hills downtown. You'll be doing a lot of walking up and down--but to me that was half the fun.
Petra was my inspiration for our trip to Jordan. Here we are, nearing the end of the Siq as the Treasury begins to peek through.
What can I say besides, "Wow, these goats were loud"?
In this video, a local man explains to us how the columns in Jerash were built to allow slight movement. He demonstrates with a spoon, while pushing on the side of the column with his hand.