Photo. Amassive Roman ruin site nearly 2,000
years old in Jerash, Kingdom of Jordan.
© Josh Cutler.
Crossing Jordan
Crossing
the border was an adventure in itself fought with lines, check points and
numerous passport stamps. Unfortunately Marna and I were stuck behind a bus load
of Chinese tourists who didn't speak a word of English, Hebrew or Arabic. After
almost three hours we were finally across the border, already totally exhausted
from our morning of anxiously waiting.
We met up with our guide
& driver, Mohammed and began our Arabian adventure into the heart of
wonderous Jordan. Upon first glance it was obvious we weren't in Kansas
anymore...
The car zoomed and zagged down the yellow brick
road passing numerous small villages and shanty towns, seemingly half
erected. Many cities in Jordan could be mistaken for construction sites with no plans on
finishing the buildings in the near future. Still, families made their homes in
the concrete foundations. I suppose these were better accommodations than
the sheep herding Bedouins called home.
Minarets, mosques and herds
of camels dotted the sandy horizon. I was amazed the flocks of grazing critters
found any nourishment in these barren desert hills.
Jerash
Our first stop in
the Kingdom of Jordan was Jerash, a massive Roman ruin site nearly 2,000 years
old. The Roman army kicked some major tail back in the day, dominating not
only Europe, but the Middle East as well. Their legacy lives on in
stone...lots of them, comprising one of the largest surviving Roman cities
outside of Italy.
| Photo. Locals taking a break in Jerash.
© Josh Cutler. |
 |
Thousands of towering stone columns line a mile long
pathway into Jerash. Chariot wheel scars remain on the pavement, still visible
two millennium later. As Marna and I meandered along the pillared path I had
visions of Russel Crowe in Gladiator garb preparing for a bloody battle to the
death. There was no doubt these savage fights echoed here long ago.
| Photo. The towering Roman pillars at Jerash.
© Josh Cutler. |
 |
When we came to an enormous amphitheatre for twenty thousand spectators my
jaw dropped with amazement. Bass reliefs of grape leaves and fruit hinted
at the drunken revelry that accompanied these events. A Roman Empire tail
gate party...
Photo. Marna and Josh stands in the front of
the gate to Jerash in Jordan.
© Josh Cutler. |
 |
Both of us were very surprised how quiet the site was...very few tourists for
such an impressive site. The silence was almost deafening.
|
Suddenly, the stillness was broken by the minaret's call to
prayer...'Allllluuuuuuuhhhh Akkkkbaarrrrr" cheered through the
speakers of several mosques simultaneously echoing within the confines of
the gigantic amphitheatre... Talk about a boomin' sound system!
Photo. The amphitheatre in Jerash. © Josh
Cutler. |
 |
Amman - days inn ... days
outFrom Jerash we continued
southbound along the King's Highway towards the bustling capital of
Amman. Mohammed made a quick stop at the city's largest mosque. A massive
domed edifice dominating the skyline. Comprised entirely of blue mosaic tiles of
every shade of the sky it appeared as if it were a dream brought on by too much
fallafel.
Photo. The city`s largest mosque in the
capital Amman.
©
Josh Cutler. |
 |
Unfortunately, I was shunned from entry due to my non-muslim
status, however the exterior artistry was enough to quench my thirst for
Jordanian culture and artistry.
Marna and I checked into our Amman
hotel, The Days Inn and were happily surprised by the quality of the place. I
suppose in the Middle East the Days Inn chain is a five star
hotel...BONUS!! We crashed early as dreams of Arabian nights washed over
our eyelids.
Little did we know that only
12 hours later the hotel would be destroyed by an Al Qaeda suicide bomber. It
was a close call...Marna and I feel very lucky to have checked out when we
did. Jordan is a peaceful country and this attack was unwarranted and
surprising to us and the rest of the world.
| Photo. Marna, the wife of the author Josh
Cutler of this article. She relaxes at the hotel room
without knowing anything about the terrible thing that was going to happen after
she and her husband checked out. © Josh Cutler. |
 |
The first terrorist attack on Jordanian soil...and we were nearly in
the thick of it all. We couldn't help but think about the worker behind the
front desk or the young Arab boy who helped us with our luggage, or the American
businessman checking his email next to me as I wrote my last journal. Were they
still there? Were they alive? Could that have been
us?
Mount Nebo
From Amman we
headed towards the sacred Biblical shrine of Mount Nebo. The Old Testament ends
with Moses standing at this very spot peering off into the Holy Land. Moses is
said to have died on the mountain and a cathedral with intense mosaics is built
over his grave site.
Photos. The photo at the left side shows the top of Mount Nebo in Jordan. The photo on the
right side display the memorial stone by of Moses. The author of the articles Josh
stands beside it. © Josh Cutler.
|
From this point one has clear views of The Dead Sea, Jerusalem and
The Sea of Gallilee.
It was Deuteronomy come to life...seeing the horizon through the eyes
of Moses. |
 |
Appropriately, after his death it was "Joshua" who led the
people into the Promised Land.
This story continues in Part 4 - read of the exploration of
the ancient red rose wonder Petra in Jordan (click on the link): Read more in Part
4
.
Joshua Cutler, 18 November 2005
Additional information
Presentation of the author:
|
Photo of Josh Cutler, a great adventure traveller from USA.
©
Photo Copyright for all photos in this article: Josh Cutler.
E-mail address: NYCutler@aol.com |
 |
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