| Amman and the Dead Sea --- 22 February 2006 |
After breakfast at the hotel we visited The Citadel, a plateau with remnants of an ancient
Umayad archaeological complex including, fortifications, temples the small National
Archaeological Museum, and a partially reconstructed sixth century Byzantine church. The
Citadel offered extensive views of Amman.
Umayad archaeological complex including, fortifications, temples the small National
Archaeological Museum, and a partially reconstructed sixth century Byzantine church. The
Citadel offered extensive views of Amman.
Amman Citadel
Amman Citadel
Byzantine Church at the Citadel
Partial view of Amman from the Citadel
Next we visited the large Roman amphitheater, still used occasionally for outdoor
performances. Adjacent to the amphitheater are two small but interesting museums: the
Jordan Folklore Museum displaying items related to desert life in Jordan, and the Jordan
Museum of Popular Traditions displaying principally traditional Jordanian clothing and
textiles.
performances. Adjacent to the amphitheater are two small but interesting museums: the
Jordan Folklore Museum displaying items related to desert life in Jordan, and the Jordan
Museum of Popular Traditions displaying principally traditional Jordanian clothing and
textiles.
Roman Amphitheater, Amman
Roman Amphitheater, Amman
Then we started our hour-long drive through dry and rocky territory to the Dead Sea, about
50km (30 miles) west of Amman. Upon arriving at the very salty Dead Sea we were
surprised to find several luxury beach resorts, and more under construction. The "beach" is
rocky and looks uninviting. The bottom of the Dead Sea is covered with sharp salt crystals,
so that we could not enter the water without some kind of footwear to protect the feet. The
only vegetation is that which has been planted and watered within the resorts. We saw few
visitors within the resorts and no towns or villages nearby. The Dead Sea is aptly named and
it was hard for us to imagine why anyone would want to spend more than a few hours there.
50km (30 miles) west of Amman. Upon arriving at the very salty Dead Sea we were
surprised to find several luxury beach resorts, and more under construction. The "beach" is
rocky and looks uninviting. The bottom of the Dead Sea is covered with sharp salt crystals,
so that we could not enter the water without some kind of footwear to protect the feet. The
only vegetation is that which has been planted and watered within the resorts. We saw few
visitors within the resorts and no towns or villages nearby. The Dead Sea is aptly named and
it was hard for us to imagine why anyone would want to spend more than a few hours there.
We had lunch in the Dead
Sea Restaurant, located in
the Dead Sea Resort. At
the Resort we put on our
bathing suits and water
moccasins, then walked
into the extremely salty
sea to spend a few minutes
floating high in the water.
It was a novel experience.
Then we showered, and
spent some time in the
Resort's swimming pool
before heading back to
Amman.
Sea Restaurant, located in
the Dead Sea Resort. At
the Resort we put on our
bathing suits and water
moccasins, then walked
into the extremely salty
sea to spend a few minutes
floating high in the water.
It was a novel experience.
Then we showered, and
spent some time in the
Resort's swimming pool
before heading back to
Amman.
Tourist at the Dead Sea
Coming into Amman we stopped at a coffee shop where we enjoyed refreshments and
experienced smoking traditional oriental water pipes. This was an upscale coffee shop
patronized mainly by businessmen and a few modern Jordanian couples.
experienced smoking traditional oriental water pipes. This was an upscale coffee shop
patronized mainly by businessmen and a few modern Jordanian couples.
Pipe smoker in Amman coffee shop
Pipe smoker in Amman coffee shop
Our OAT tour escort and guide in Jordan was Aziz Azayzeh, who was excellent His English
was very good, he had a great sense of humor, was knowledgeable and very helpful. A few
years ago he had visited the United States and spent several weeks touring the western part
of the country with some of his friends, so he knew where we were coming from.
was very good, he had a great sense of humor, was knowledgeable and very helpful. A few
years ago he had visited the United States and spent several weeks touring the western part
of the country with some of his friends, so he knew where we were coming from.