Virtual Experience:
Eat & Exercise
The first order of business after my seven-hour flight and three-hour drive was to find a good steak, which came in the way of a sautéed mushroom and melted cheese sandwich when I first arrived in Petra. You may be thinking, you are in the Middle East; why not try some of their cuisines? I thought I needed time to reacquaint myself with foods that my palate recognized which was a mistake. I have discovered I love Middle Eastern food!
Haret Jdoudna Restaurant located in Madaba came highly recommended. “Let us go back in time, to a more peaceful, more enchanted instance; five thousand years ago, to be exact. That is when Madaba was born; a city so ancient, so enchanted. Famous for its mosaics, Madaba is most well known for its 6th century cartographic map: the oldest depiction of the Holy Land. In the Byzantine era, Madaba grew to become one of the most significant cities in Jordan.” Excerpt of Our Story Hart Jdoudna
If you are ever in the mood for this type of cuisine, I highly recommend:
From the Cold Oriental Mezza: Hummos, Baba Ghannouj, and Fattoush. From the Hot Oriental Mezza: Fried Halloum Cheese and Fatayer. From the Charcoal Grill: Mixed Grill. This may seem like a lot of food but no worries. It was shared amongst friends that are part of my international family plus the previous day I spent hours hiking around Petra to deserve the calories of this fried goodness! 🙂
Pray
A monument at the museum in the Mahaba area of Amman read, “May peace prevail on earth.” This message spoke volumes considering the surrounding countries that are currently not experiencing the harmony that is evident in the co-existence that Jordan represents.
It was surprisingly refreshing to see and hear the Christmas message while strolling through the “City of Mosaics.” A trip to the grocery store which reminded me a lot of a Harris Teeter chain and consider great preparation of shelf shock (more than one choice for any particular item) should I go to the grocery store in the states, gave shoppers plenty of opportunities to sing along to some Christmas Standards, “The First Noel,” “Joy to the World,” lest I forget the toe tappers of “Feliz Navida” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” Upon checkout the bellhop asked me if I was Christian. He then proceeded to wish me a ‘Merry Christmas’ and stated that although he is Muslim he has a lot of Christian friends. A traveler can hear both the songs of Christmas and the call to prayer during this season in Amman. This brings back to the forefront of my mind the ability of Jordanians to allow and practice peace on earth.
Love
Jordan offered so much to love during the few moments time allowed. All of the sites I saw were amazingly astonishing. I loved the fact that if I were feeling adventurous I could have rented a car and toured Jordan with the ease of western driving. More importantly, I love the fact that I realize my limitations. Katrina driving solo in a country even with a GPS is a recipe for… (those who know me fill in the blank) ____________. 🙂 For those who don’t know me, my nonexistent sense of direction (not applicable to shopping) would have led to unintentional scenic routes, a lot of refueling opportunities, not to mention the possibility of ending up in any of the neighboring countries of Iraq, Syria, Israel, or Saudi.
I also loved that I had my first international meet, greet, and be merry experience with two of my frolleagues (friend + colleague) who were visiting their children in Jordan. Their hospitality will forever be cherished. 🙂
Teach
“The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a land of mesmerizing beauty and contrasts.” A land that I will visit again; for this excursion only offered me time to see Petra, the Dead Sea, Mt. Nebo, Madaba, and a peripheral view of the Citadel. Left on the bucket list for this place of prestige and peace, a place mostly covered by the Arabian Desert who shares the Dead Sea with Syria and Israel, are the attractions of: Mukawir, Ma’in Hot Springs (Hammamat Ma’in), Jerash, and Wadi Rum.
Not to belabor this post, I will try to summarize my experience of this two and a half day marathon of an experience.
Petra
“… match me such a marvel, save in Eastern clime
A rose-red city, half as old as time.”
The 19th century poet Dean Burgen with pen to paper did a great job in describing the once lost city rediscovered in 1812 by the Swiss traveller Johann Ludwig Burchkardt. The Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled there more than 2000 years ago, carved this marvelous masterpiece into the face of sheer rock. My transport on the way back from Petra shared his pride in describing his grandfather’s heritage. The Nabataeans, a people who were tall with strong hands and a strong body.
There were many sites in Petra that could take your breath away. If I had to choose one, it would be the Treasury. “Entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge, over 1km in length, which is flanked on either side by soaring, 80m high cliffs. Just walking through the Siq is an experience in itself. The colours and formations of the rocks are dazzling. As you reach the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh (Treasury).” – Visit Jordan
Dead Sea
Do I start with mishap of epic laughter or try to be scholarly first? My research on the Dead Sea revealed that it is believed to have been home to five Biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Adman, Zebouin and Zoar (Bela). There is no doubt that this site, who has the lowest point on the face of the earth, offers stunning views and the opportunity to dip in the water that has both historical and spiritual legacy. About that dip…
The dip was to consist of a photo of me floating on my back reading ‘The Jordan Times.’ The dip almost got me dunked if it had not been for the kindness of two fellow vacationers who doubled as my photographers and lifeguards per se and who probably doubled over with laughter when I left…I had to laugh myself. 🙂 Many spend the day sunbathing, swimming, and enjoying the minerals from the sea’s muddy floor. I was thankful for my minutes and the returned invitation to prove that it is impossible to sink!
Mt. Nebo
Growing up in church I remember the Sundays of studying (wait that is too strong of word), looking at the map in the back of the bible when I was supposed to be listening to sermons…Wait that might be incriminating. Perhaps it is better to say that I was mutli-tasking… Some of the recognizable locations were the panoramic view of the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho, and Jerusalem all from atop Mt. Nebo.
Upon researching Mount Nebo, I discovered that it is a 3, 300 foot high mountain opposite the northern end of the Dead Sea. It is written that this is the mountain from which Moses saw the Promise Land before he died. Further research revealed the scriptural inspiration to the modern sculpture located on the platform. It represents Moses’ staff and Jesus’ words in John 3 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
Madaba
The walk through this Christian city best known for its accurate 6th century cartographic mosaic map of the Holy land was simply put, refreshing, rejuvenating, and revealing. I hope to post a more detailed account with photographs in the near future.