DAY 11 - Jordan, Here We Come!

Only 6% are Christians!

This map hung outside my hotel room - kinda fun!

Good-bye Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem!  You've been good to us!

Farewell!  Oh Jerusalem!  Oh Jerusalem!

The population of Jordan is 10 million, with half of them being in Amman, the capital city.  Jordan, an Arab nation on the east bank of the Jordan River, is defined by ancient monuments, nature reserves and seaside resorts.  

For most of its history since independence from British administration in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic ruler, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, through several wars and coup attempts.

Now, this is a cool mountain top!

In the midst of surrounding turmoil, Jordan has been very hospitable, accepting refugees from almost all surrounding conflicts as early as 1948, with most notably the estimated 2.1 million Palestinians and the 1.4 million Syrian refugees residing in the country.  The kingdom is also a refuge to thousands of Iraqui Christians feeling the Islamic State. While Jordan continues to accept refugees, the recent large influx from Syria placed substantial strain on national resources and infrastructure.

Look - it's a herd of camel along the road!

Many are here from Egypt as they can make more money.  1/2 million are Iraquis.  They like it in Jordan, the middle of the Middle East countries.  It's more safe and most comfortable.

Saving water from the Jordan River

Jordan is considered to be among the safest of Arab countries in the Middle East, and has avoided long-term terrorism and instability.

Colorful shoppes along the way.  85-90% of Jordanians smoke....Most youth start very young.

Enjoy the colorful scenery and photos from the bus on our long bus ride today.

Gas prices are double to outlying countries.  Taxes are 17%...CRAZY!  All health care is paid for!  Things are EXPENSIVE!

There is LOTS of green on the countryside hills today as Jordan has experienced quite a lot of rain recently.

Note how people in the city park - any which way in the McDonald's parking lot!

Jerash is a city, north of the capital Amman. Inhabited since the Bronze Age, it’s known for the ruins of the walled Greco-Roman settlement of Gerasa just outside the modern city. These include the 2nd-century Hadrian’s Arch, the Corinthian columns of the Temple of Artemis and the huge Forum’s oval colonnade. 

Hadrian's Gate - 129 AD

The amphitheatre, arches and plazas are in excellent condition due to the dry climate it is located in. It was hidden for centuries under the desert sand and has only recently been excavated in the past century. It was only rediscovered in the early 1800s and excavations began in 1925.

At its prime, Jerash housed 20,000 people and really began to flourish during the time of Alexander the Great. Located along the trade route, the city thrived and continued to grow until 800 AD.

Many youth were here this day and all practiced their English on us.  They would especially stare at us women.  They are not used to many tourists yet, I guess.

Remnants of the Hippodrome, stadium, where 15,000 people would gather for chariot races and sporting events.

The Forum has well-preserved columns...the paving is also original - WOW!

Dating back 6500 years, Jerash is considered the most well-preserved site for ancient Roman architecture outside of Italy.  It is dubbed "The Pompeii of the East."

There are little holes in the bottles that act as a sprinkler system....very innovative!

The South Gate faced Philadelphia and the North gate faced Damascus

Jerash is one of the best preserved Roman cities in the world. 

Up to the top to the Temple of Zeus

What a view from up on top!  Only 30% of the site has been excavated.  The work began 60 years ago!

This must have been something in its day with everything totally in tact!

The Ampitheatre seated 4,000 people!

I had the wonderful opportunity to sing a little Puccini opera here.  What an experience!  The video is on my blog!

A couple of Muslim girls wanted my photo so we exchanged.

Some school boys say hi to me on the bus - they were so cute!

Time for Lunch!

Oh it's good to sit down!

Beautiful wall paintings as we drive along the highway

I always hate to see raw meat hanging in the windows - yuk!

Now, this is better!

Not sure why he was holding this rug up on top of the car??

University of Jordan in Amman

We saw so many beautiful, large, homes along the way outside Amman.

A Bedoin dwelling amidst the more affluent homes as we drive along in Jordanian countryside.

This is one families' home - different floors as each child starts their own family.    They keep building higher.

Selling his produce right along the highway - a very common site!

LOVE this photo!

VERY typical!

Squatty potties are common here in Jordan

The modern town of Umm Qais is the site of the ancient Greco-Roman town of Gadara.

Gadara was situated in a defensible position on a ridge accessible to the east but protected by steep falls on the other three sides. It was well-watered, with access to the Ain Qais spring and cisterns.

Josephus relates that in AD 66 at the beginning of the Jewish revolt against the Romans the country around Gadara was laid waste. 

"So Vespasian marched to the city of Gadara. He came into it and slew all the youth, the Romans having no mercy on any age whatsoever. He set fire to the city and all the villas around it."

The Gadarenes captured some of the boldest of the Jews, of whom several were put to death and others imprisoned.

Gadara (modern day Umm Qays) was on a high ridge overlooking the confluence of the Yarmuk River and the Sea of Galilee.

Trying out my "panoramic" setting on my camera - looks like I need to perfect my shot!  OK kids -I'm only 20 minutes from Syria!

What a view!  The Sea of Galilee and Tiberias, Israel, are visible, and just across the valley of the Yarmouk River is the southern end of the Golan Heights, Syria under Israeli occupation since the Six-Day War in 1967.  Mount Hermon bordering Lebanon is also visible from here.

This is the the place where Jesus cast out the devil from two men into a herd of pigs (Matthew 8: 28-34).

Young boys LOVE us American women! 

Some photos of Umm Quais that we didn't actually see because of time, but I would have LOVED it!

Another Roman Amphitheatre!!

GREAT location, so Gadara was the "City of Culture" with many philosophers, historians, and actors.

Roman Aqueduct under the city of Gadara at Umm Quais.

Gadara was blessed with fertile soil, abundant water, and a location astride a number of key trading routes connecting Asia and Europe.

Entrance of the Tomb of "Germani"

Fresh excavations in Gadara

Some of the scenes from our bus ride back to Amman - a long drive and what a day!

So many of the people are very poor and there are places that just wouldn't be the best for children, but they don't know any different.