Madaba
Today we explored Madaba, famously known as the mosaic city and for having one of the largest Christian communities in Jordan. One third of Madaba’s population is Christian, two thirds are Muslim. The most famous mosaic is the map carpeting the floor of the Greek Orthodox, St George’s Church. Crafted in AD 560 this map has all the major biblical sights from Egypt to Palestine and is rather impressive. There are also other mosaics around the town but we didn’t have time to see them.
Mount Nebo
At Mount Nebo the area is undergoing extensive restoration work so we could not see everything in and around the Moses Memorial Church. In the book of Deuteronomy in the bible, this is the mountain that Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. On a clear day, you are able to see the spires of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jericho, the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley .Alas today it was very hazy and although we enjoyed a great viewpoint we could not see all these places.
Driving through Amman to Jerash
Driving in Amman is hair raising to say the least. You have to negotiate busy roads crammed full with trucks and the road ascends and descends regularly. Jordanian drivers think it is the norm to drive in the middle of a two lane highway and overtake on either side. As you look out of the car window you see a colourful array of plant stalls and fruit and vegetable stalls along the highway. Beige hued apartment blocks with a mass of satellite dishes line the horizon and mosques can be seen perched on the hilltops. Children walk in the streets in dangerous traffic, some trying to sell you goods whilst you are stopped at the traffic lights. I saw my first shopping mall, Jordanians still buy their goods from different little shops along the main street. From what we have seen malls and supermarkets are not the norm here.
Spain reigns
Watched the football in Jerash in the Molody bar. Picture it- eight people dressed up in orange watching football with young, shisha smoking Jordanians in the middle of Jerash. And we lost...... Congratulations Spain!
No comments:
Post a Comment