The Kingdom of Jordan

We visited three very interesting sites. One still in Egypt, Mount Sinai but on the way to Jordan, and  Petra and Jerash in Jordan.

Jordan/Jan25_47.JPG

Jordan/Jan25_47.JPG

Jordan/Jan25_47.JPG

Not much has changed in the Sinai in the past 2000 years. It is still a desolate but beautiful place inhabited by Bedouin tribesmen.  These are a few date palm groves and some roadside vendors such as this little girl selling jewelry. I think we bought some.
St Katherine’s (Catherin’s)  Monastery.  This is the reputed home of the Burning Bush that appeared to Moses and God telling him to the top of Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments.  The bush shown is believed to be the actual bush he saw.  It was transplanted to its current location so the Monastery Chapel could be built over  its original location. For more info go to: http://sacredsites.com/africa/egypt/mount_sinai.html

Jordan/Jan25_47.JPG

Jordan/Jan25_47.JPG

Jordan/Jan25_47.JPG

Jordan/Jan25_47.JPG

Jordan/Jan25_47.JPG

From the Sinai we crossed into Jordan. First stop was Petra.  If you saw the Indiana Jones movies, Petra will look familiar.  Beautiful “buildings” carved into colorful sandstone cliffs. The interior shots of sandstone colors are the  actual colors seen. Do these facades  look Roman in origin?  You may understand why when you see the next series of Jordan photos.

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

To get to Petra, you must traverse this long, deep, narrow canyon.  It appears to be an earthquake fault as the sides follow each other.  Where one side has a bulge, the corresponding one has a depression indicating that it is actually a split in the rock.  The only other way in is across hundreds of miles of waterless desert so Petra was easily defended against intruders.

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

The most impressive “carved building” is the Treasury. It is massive on the exterior but relatively small inside.  It was carved in the second century AD   so is relatively “new”  See http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/lost-city-petra/ for additional info.

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

The colors of the sandstone were fantastic.  It was dark inside the rooms but a flash really brought out the color.  They really were this brilliant.  I did not enhance them in any way.

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

You can see some of the same brilliant colors in this cliff.

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

Jordan/untitled1.jpg

Our next stop is Jerash, located 30 miles North of Amman, a relatively unknown site with beautiful Roman architecture.  Roman? Yes, This part of Africa was part of the Roman Empire. See :http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/tourism3.html  for additional information about this site.

Jordan/Jordan_Roman_Ruins.jpg

Jordan/Jordan_Roman_Ruins.jpg

Jordan/Jordan_Roman_Ruins.jpg

Jordan/Jordan_Roman_Ruins.jpg

Jordan/Jordan_Roman_Ruins.jpg

Jordan/Jordan_Roman_Ruins.jpg

Leave a Comment