Travel Blog
Recipe of joy
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JORDAN
Things to do and see in Jordan
The Peaceful Oasis of the Middle East
1 - Amman
From the summit of Jabal Al Qal’a Citadel, it appears as if light wooden bricks are stacked so closely that the ground below is obscured from view.
Upon closer inspection, you start noticing the cracks in the doors and windows, the rainwater tanks, and the satellite dishes on the roofs that resemble points of light reflecting the intense sun.
The slim minarets standing out against the blue sky are the only things that break the undulating line of the hills that characterize the territory where Amman is located.
Our trip to Jordan starts in the capital, where we were greeted on the evening of our arrival by a sandstorm that made our landing at Queen Alia Airport challenging and delayed.
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Houses clustered on a hill in Amman
A usual eatery in downtown Amman
Jordan, known as a peaceful haven among its turbulent neighboring nations, is actually a Constitutional Monarchy where the Royal Family is highly esteemed.
You'll spot the happy Royal Family posing for pictures all over the place: on the sides of buildings, on billboards by the road, or in frames in shops and clubs.
We stroll around Amman's streets to make our way to various attractions like the Roman Theatre, the Jordan Museum, and the King Abdullah Mosque, in addition to the Citadel mentioned earlier.
I'll let the tourist guides handle all the historical and architectural details of the city since they are definitely more knowledgeable than me on the subject.
What we find most interesting is exploring and observing the locals, the bustling city traffic, wandering the streets of the downtown area while the mesmerizing call to prayer from the muezzin resonates through the buildings, and then navigating the hills with steep and uneven sidewalks, making sure not to stumble over the fruit basket on the ground or the stool left outside the store.
The Roman Theatre's ruins
A store selling essential oils in downtown Amman
I want to invite you on a sensory adventure, where you can breathe in the fragrances of flowers and spices that filled the air as I strolled through bustling streets. Picture entering shops lined with shelves of golden bottles brimming with essential oils, each one vying to be picked from the array of a thousand others.
Head to one of the numerous souks to browse for Middle Eastern spices, teacups, or sweet treats, and to witness the warmth of the Jordanian people who will impress you.
When haggling, channel your inner Arab merchant and be bold in your bargaining.
2 - Jerash
Posing at the Oval Plaza in Jerash
The leftover structure of the Temple of Zeus's colonnade
Amman is not only filled with Middle Eastern charm as you would anticipate but also serves as a great starting point for exploring other tourist attractions.
We started our journey driving north in our rented car on the road leading directly to Damascus.
But let's make a quick stop first because after around 50km, we come across the ancient Greco-Roman city of Jerash.
Spending at least half a day among its ruins is truly worth it, as they are among the best-preserved in the world. Walking along the pavement that has witnessed 2,000 years of history, you will pass over what's left of the Forum, the heart of city life. You'll see the characteristic colonnade following its oval shape, and you'll walk by the remains of several theaters until you reach the Temple of Zeus, which overlooks the entire valley from the highest point.
3 - The Dead Sea
Bird's-eye view of the Dead Sea
From Amman, drive for an hour in the opposite direction along a perfectly paved road, and you'll arrive at the Dead Sea.
In the scorching heat, we moved around it heading south, driving past several 5-star resorts known for their beauty treatments that suddenly appeared from the sand like jack-in-the-boxes, standing out against the barren landscape.
To swim in the sea, you need to enter one of these resorts that offer access to their services and freshwater pools.
We decided to visit O Beach, paid the entrance fee, and made our way down to the sea. We were cautious not to slip on the salt crystals gathered on the shore as we tried to dip into the water, which was so salty and thick it almost felt like oil.
The resort's pool with a view of the Dead Sea
Experiencing a dip in the Dead Sea is a must-do
4 - The King's Road
The King's Road's windswept scenery
We continue our journey south along the Kings' Road, which is incredibly scenic with its winding curves that surround tobacco-colored valleys. We come across villages of shepherds and pass by ancient Crusader castles, where we pause for a challenging but brief visit because of the constant gusts of the Simun wind.
Rubric
Long live rural areas!
Long live rural areas!
5 - The Wadi Rum Desert
The desert's colors and shapes are truly magnificent
Our tent named "Martian"
The Bedouins' tented camp
It's time for tea by the fire
Huge, reverberating, and godly.
Edward Lawrence described Wadi Rum as the brick-colored desert we had just arrived at.
We were looking forward to experiencing that amazing view and fully immersing ourselves in that dreamlike environment: the dome with the see-through roof within the Bedouin-run tent camp was exactly what we were looking for.
After a long day of traveling, we relaxed in the evening by the fire with tasty spiced tea, the aroma of shisha lingering in the air as we sat on floor cushions, enjoying a traditional meal of meat, rice, and vegetables cooked in the ground.
We're unexpectedly left with memories of this evening that we'll hold onto for a while.
The morning after shows its first light on the impressive granite formations molded by years of wind and erosion, reminding us of Lawrence of Arabia's words.
Now we completely grasp its significance.
Riding in an open-top jeep or on the back of a camel, you head out to discover the desert. You can admire the unique rock formations, vast stretches of sand and rocks with colorful streaks as far as you can see, and the spring and the remains of the house that once belonged to the most famous resident of this remote place: Lawrence of Arabia.
What's left of the Hejaz railway
6 - Petra
Our journey's final destination is the gem of the Middle East: the historic Nabatean city of Petra.
The Nabateans' capital, carved entirely out of rock in a hidden canyon area to evade enemies, has a history of 2000 years and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
A narrow, tall canyon with a thousand shades of red at the entrance to the site protects the intimacy of a city that formed on the vertical rock and sprawls into the valley.
As you stroll along the narrow access road, the bottleneck suddenly opens up to reveal the best calling card you can imagine: The Treasury, a funerary monument that will leave you speechless.
Your steps will resound in the vacant interiors of Petra's structures as you come across them one by one along the lengthy journey that will fill your entire day.
Actually, you'll get to see grand tombs, monasteries, theaters, warehouses, and homes that were once bustling with life but now remain still in front of many tourists.
The Treasure is a funerary monument.
The Treasure is a funerary monument.
You can get to the Monastery after walking uphill for about an hour, but it's totally worth it.
I picture this place, now deserted and quiet, personified by a graceful woman from a different era who, in her present decay, is eager to recount the tales of her glorious past and the narratives of thriving commerce between the Arabian Peninsula and the Mediterranean that she observed.
Jordan: Practical Info and Helpful Tips
Population: 11,490,000 individuals
Religion: Islam
Security: Petty thefts or pickpocketing are prevalent
Currency: Jordanian dinar. Credit cards are commonly accepted
Entry requirements: passport must be valid for 6 months from the date of arrival. No visa or mandatory vaccinations required
Best time to visit: Optimal periods are the transitional seasons to steer clear of the extreme heat
We visited in April and discovered 30 degrees and scorching heat in the Dead Sea region.
How to dress: opt for light clothes and comfy shoes. Remember to bring scarves to wrap around your shoulders and wear long pants if you plan to visit mosques. In Amman, people mostly dress in a European style.
Road conditions: all the roads are paved and easy to navigate, with signs and road markers also available in English. Just be cautious of the chaotic traffic in Amman!
Getting around: We decided to rent a car at Amman airport
Power sockets: similar to the Italian ones
Internet: widely available through wifi in tourist accommodations. We purchased a local SIM card at the airport to have access to navigation everywhere
Typical dishes: include mansaf (the national dish), hummus, falafel, and zarb (a Bedouin dish cooked underground)
recommended book: “Lawrence of Arabia and the Invention of the Middle East” by Amodeo
Souvenirs: products with Dead Sea salts, spices, essential oils, kajal, and Bedouin carpets
The estimated cost for a 7-day trip (medium category hotels): €1,500 per person, which includes flights