Amman, Jerash and Aljun

30 November 2009- Monday

Today is the optional tour of Jerash and the Saladin castle called Aljoon. Again an hour bus ride and now I realize that a lot of Jordan is mountainous , We arrive at Jerash an old Roman city sitting right in the heart of the new town and enter by the South gate after we pass through the Arch of Hadrian, (he really got around considering he;s got a wall in England named after him.) Didn’t realize we were in for a 3 mile hike but the ruins are extensive example of a 30,000 population city with 2 arenas, a circular town plaza where the main roads of the town cross. On the main road was a beautiful Nympheum- water fountain and stair leading to main temple on the highest point- the temple of Artemis (Diana the huntress).

Had a nice lunch followed by a shorter tour of a Muslim crusader era castle manned by one of Saladin's relatives to lookout over the valley to guard the caravan and Muslim pilgrims route to Mecca. (guide quick to differentiate the magnanimous nature of Saladin to the perfidy of the French commander). Anyway, more of the famous stairs with no banisters. Pretty exhausted by dinner.