Pilgrims' Progress 3

Jordan

I pick up the tale of our pilgrimage as we cross into Jordan at the Sheik Hussein northern border crossing.  This exercise is not for the faint hearted so it's just as well we were a band of four intrepid explorers.  Well, we probably looked like four disoriented, dazed, sweating over the hill pensioners (well 3 at least!) but don't let that fool you!

The tour organiser did her best to prepare us for the crossing but when she said it can be a lengthy, convoluted process she was not exaggerating.  Those Jordanians certainly love their bureaucratic processes.  Bus it over there; walk here; stamp that; haul your suitcases through the heat to this shed for screening; now haul yourself over there for screening; now stamp that and show your passport again; now convince a taxi driver to take you to the gate; now fall in a grateful sweaty heap at the feet of your Eco Desert Tour driver.  Someone (not naming any names) decided to turn the heat up to the 40s just as we head into the desert country.

Today we will be driven the length of Jordan to visit the ancient Jerrash ruins, Mount Nebo and Petra.  This country belonged to the Ammonites and Moabites and I really enjoyed seeing the difference in terrain, culture and atmosphere.  Our driver, Muhammad, was a great guy and made the day quite enjoyable.  He is a Bedouin and gave us a running commentary on many interesting political facts, the Bedouin culture and introduced Mum to the delights of street Turkish coffee.  

Dad and I had a guide take us through the Jerrash ruins and listening to the history of the place was very interesting, although I think I would have enjoyed the walk more if it wasn't so hot. We were very grateful that Muhammad took us to a lovely restaurant to enjoy a typical Jordanian buffet for lunch.  I found the Jordanians at these establishments most courteous and eager to please, which was a refreshing change as customer service is a bit hit and miss in Israel to be honest.  

After a couple of hours on the road we arrived at Madaba to view the mosiac map before heading off to Mount Nebo.   I didn't know anything about the mosiac map until then but I found it very interesting and the mosiac remains were quite beautiful, albeit yet another visit into a catholic church.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madaba_Map

Mount Nebo

Muhammad dropped us off at the base of the Mount Nebo site and yep, you guessed it, the catholic church had taken possession of the entire area.  Not to be daunted by the extreme heat we traipse up the small hill, along with many other people, to take in the view that Moses would have spent time gazing on as well.  It was quite sobering to think that 3,000 years ago, give or take a day or two, Moses took in the sight of the promised land.  What he must have been thinking and feeling in that moment, knowing that he would not be allowed to enter but yet his assignment has been completed.  

It's a shame that a common occurrence is for the horizon to be hazy, something we encountered at most places, so you can't get a clear view of the distant landscape.  Could be dust in the air or different surface temperatures but whatever the reason, it was difficult to get good photographs and to be honest, quite annoying.

While I was kneeling down to take this photo someone thought I was either a complete idiot or being very spiritual and praying because when I stood up and looked around he was taking a photo of me.

After our hot day we were dropped off at a lovely hotel in Petra to rest up before our visit to the Petra site tomorrow, something I was very much looking forward to.  

Stay tuned for the next instalment of the Pilgrims' Progress.