Jordan’s capital city was clean and well-organized and it felt safe until late at night. Thanks to these travelers from Miami, I could already experience several ‘unmissable’ spots in Amman within several hours from arriving in Amman.
@ downtown Amman, Jordan, February 1st, 2019
The Citadel in Amman is many things at the same time. It is an archaeological site, an open-air museum, and a large park for tourists and local families, all against the scenic view of the city in every direction.
@ Citadel, Amman, Jordan, February 2, 2019
Amman is hilly and the hills are tightly covered with rectangular buildings more or less in beige. I hear it frequently snows in January here and I wonder how tough the life becomes for those who live on the hills.
@ Amman, Jordan, February 2, 2019
Located at the center of downtown Amman, this cafe is a complete solution for socializing. Under the smoky air of shishas, people consume tea/coffee, food and dessert. By 11pm though, most Jordanians leave for home, and the streets are already quiet.
@ Jafra Cafe, Amman, Jordan, February 5, 2019
To move between cities in Amman, there are usually three transportation options. A taxi for a group of three travelers, an express bus, and a local bus. I usually do not prefer local buses, but that was my choice today. Except for the fact that the aisle was completed occupied with bags so I gave up on visiting the toilet at the rest area, and that I got the whole attention when I had to make noise to get off, it was a smooth ride. 4 hours flew while I was mindlessly exploring my past and future.
@ Amman to Petra, Jordan, February 6, 2019
While we were climbing the sand dune, our group tour guide, Atallat, finds a moment to offer a prayer in the middle of the desert, right next to his family-owned 40 something year-old truck.
@ Wadi Rum, Jordan, Feb 9, 2019
Many people recognize the impressive sight of the stone gate of the Monastery inside Petra, but Petra refers to the huge archaeological site, where one needs to walk diligently for 2 hours just to travel from one end to the other. And there are several steep trails, each of which requires several hours and lots of energy to complete. So your average view inside Petra is people walking, often aided by donkeys, horses, or camels.
@ Petra, Jordan, February 7, 2019
The front gate of the Treasury is probably the most iconic sight of Petra. The whole facade was carved on a single gigantic piece of rock. In fact, the word Petra means rock in Greek, and inside the Park you are surrounded by many similar rocky mountains.
Petra is believed to have been established by the Nabataeans, a nomadic Arab tribe who enjoyed the trading business thanks to Petra’s proximity to the major trading routes then.
It is not too easy to photograph the Treasury due to its height (40 meters), but there are hiking trails nearby for ‘easier’ selfies.
Finally, I had been curious about what’s inside the Treasury, because no one seemed to care too much. And I’ll keep it as a secret for your future travels.
@ Monastery, Petra, Jordan, February 9, 2019