Sightseeing

In my first few weeks in Jordan I have also managed a bit of sightseeing. There are certainly a lot of sights to see in this country and I already know that my short-time here will not allow me to see as much of it as I would like!

A two-hour drive north of Amman is the town of Umm Qais. Situated on a hill, close to where the borders of Jordan, Israel and Syria meet, are the Roman ruins of the ancient city of Gadara, complete with amphitheatre, columns and stunning views out towards the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights.

It was the first warm and sunny day since I arrived and we spent some time wandering among the ruins before enjoying a long lunch at a restaurant overlooking the site. We then drove back to Amman through the fertile Jordan Valley, which runs parallel to the border with Israel and is full of greenhouses where a multitude of fruits and vegetables (but probably mostly tomatoes) are grown.

Last weekend I visited the Amman Citadel, right in the heart of the city. The site dates back to Neolithic times and has an immense history of occupation over many centuries. The two dominant feature are the remains of the Roman Temple of Hercules

And the restored Umayyad Palace

It's all set high on one of the many hills of Amman and so you get amazing views of the city in all directions.

Apart from the fascination of these historical sites that have survived so much I thought one of the nicest things about them was that for Jordanian residents the entry fee is affordable to most people as it's the equivalent of about 25p or 35c. This means that they are not just somewhere for tourists to go but they are also a great day out for local families who take along a picnic and enjoy spending time together.