Jordan--the Fourth Quartet
If its neighbor to the West, Israel, is tense and restless, then across the famous rift valley of the Jordan River, is its mirror opposite. Jordan, that little jewel of peace and stability, was also awash in flowers and Spring green displaying its beauty and progress as we visited its people and some of the most majestic archaeological treasures in the Middle East.
The country of Jordan is a charming place and a refuge for millions of displaced Palestinians and Iraqis who have been welcomed there without complaint, but putting a real strain on its fragile economy. Jordan has accepted these displaced people and tried to maintain positive economic growth in the face of such overwhelming challenges to a small nation.
Its present and past leadership, Kings Hussein and now Abdullah II, has been visionary and set the pace so that Jordan has become a stable state of progressive policies that has brought prosperity to the region and to its peoples.
We loved Jordan. Not only was it beautiful and friendly, it was also historic and full of wonder. Jordan was a part of the larger biblical lands of the ancient world, and so much that we read about happened there. Jacob wrestled with God near one of its northern rivers. Moses died and is buried there. Jesus was baptized there and traveled to many of its small towns.
Amman, the beautiful, “White City”, like Jerusalem, sits on seven great mountainous hills and gleams in shining marble and limestone. We visited ancient Jerrash, the commercial capital of the Romans in that region. Saw Black Irises growing wild. Toured the mosaic makers of ancient and modern Madaba, and became pilgrims to the magnificent ruins of Petra carved into the sandstone mountains of the South—a dramatic and breathtaking experience for all of us.
We were able to stand on Mount Nebo where Moses stood, on a clear day, and see the sweep of the Jordan Valley and the Mountains of Israel frm the Dead Sea nearly to the Sea of Tiberius. Again, breathtaking and visually stunning. On almost our last night in the Middle East we ate Bedouin style the national dish of lamb, rice and yogurt standing around large trays of food with our hands, and with our Jordanian hosts watching and applauding our efforts. Magnificent and priceless experiences.
The country of Jordan is a charming place and a refuge for millions of displaced Palestinians and Iraqis who have been welcomed there without complaint, but putting a real strain on its fragile economy. Jordan has accepted these displaced people and tried to maintain positive economic growth in the face of such overwhelming challenges to a small nation.
Its present and past leadership, Kings Hussein and now Abdullah II, has been visionary and set the pace so that Jordan has become a stable state of progressive policies that has brought prosperity to the region and to its peoples.
We loved Jordan. Not only was it beautiful and friendly, it was also historic and full of wonder. Jordan was a part of the larger biblical lands of the ancient world, and so much that we read about happened there. Jacob wrestled with God near one of its northern rivers. Moses died and is buried there. Jesus was baptized there and traveled to many of its small towns.
Amman, the beautiful, “White City”, like Jerusalem, sits on seven great mountainous hills and gleams in shining marble and limestone. We visited ancient Jerrash, the commercial capital of the Romans in that region. Saw Black Irises growing wild. Toured the mosaic makers of ancient and modern Madaba, and became pilgrims to the magnificent ruins of Petra carved into the sandstone mountains of the South—a dramatic and breathtaking experience for all of us.
We were able to stand on Mount Nebo where Moses stood, on a clear day, and see the sweep of the Jordan Valley and the Mountains of Israel frm the Dead Sea nearly to the Sea of Tiberius. Again, breathtaking and visually stunning. On almost our last night in the Middle East we ate Bedouin style the national dish of lamb, rice and yogurt standing around large trays of food with our hands, and with our Jordanian hosts watching and applauding our efforts. Magnificent and priceless experiences.
posted by Lynn Bauman at 7:28 AM
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