Jordan December 2007

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I left the chaotic dirty Cairo airport during the Hadj where thousands and thousands of people dressed in white were heading to Mecca. Arriving in Jordan was arriving to a different world entirely even though they are neighbors. Yes, the Hadj pilgrims were there as well, and the airport was clean, organized, efficient, calm. And you can say the same for the rest of Jordan.

I was so impressed with the country. Egypt was 3rd world, but Jordan didn't seem to be. It had a well-developed infrastructure, railroads to haul exports and imports to the port, excellent well signed highways, an unobtrusive yet good freeway system in Amman. The sales people didn't harass you at the tourist areas like they did in Egypt. From the looks of the housing in Amman and other cities, there is a large middle class. Amman which used to be the original Philadelphia, is an attractive, modern city. Perhaps there is something to be said for benevolent kingdoms, instead of police-supported dictatorships. There is also a large police presence in Jordan, but it has a different feel to it than Egypt's. I could be naive on this point. The country seems ordered, not oppressed. There is a huge Palestinian population, and now a huge Iraqi refugee population....and the place hasn't blown apart like Lebenon.

The sights were so much more than the famous Petra. There was the old Roman city in Jerash, which was the more complete than any Roman city I've ever visited in Italy. Also, the crusaders' castles, an intriguing church in Madaba with an ancient mosaic of the route to the Holy Land for pilgrims, Mount Nebo where Moses supposedly pointed out the Promised Land that he never got to, Wadi Run which was the site of Lawrence of Arabia's activity and a Bedouin hamlet, and although I didn't get there, the Dead Sea.

I visited Jordan for only five days. I wish it had been much more.

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Photos

View from Mt. Nebo
Not much to see but desert is there? Not much of a promised land.

Petra the Siq
A long narrow path you must walk to arrive at the most glorious Petra sites of which I don't have a good picture!

Wadi Run
My favorite photo in Jordan.