It was a long day getting here punctuated at the end by a meal in the Tawaheen Al-Hawa restaurant somewhere in the western side of Amman. This was a great establishment and we had what could be described as a Jordanian BBQ with salads, homus etc seated around a low circular table on comfy lounges.  Around us were groups of locals taking it all in as well, a good number of the women were sucking on some pipes of sorts….need to find out what these actually are….off to the hotel and bed. A 5.30am wake up call awaits……..

The first stop was at the Amman Citadel, this is one of Amman’s oldest known places. It dates back 7000 years by some estimates. It has been occupied by all comers, including of course the Romans who built a temple to Hercules along with all the other typical Roman stuff…theatre, colonnades. We also have a mosque and other building reflecting the muslim occupation. The site was flattened by the big earthquake in the mid 8th century.

Temple of Hercules atop the Citadel in Amman

Back on board we headed for the Jordan river and the site  thought to be where John baptised Jesus.  The river here is a real contrast  with its headwaters.  Here it is a muddy channel in pretty sparse low-lying land probably about 5 metres across. We are on its east bank and across the way on the Israeli side is a site for full immersion  baptismal gatherings of all sorts. Before coming to the river there is archaeological evidence of the presence of 3 ‘churches’ built atop each other which provides evidence of the importance of the site and the thinking that this was where Jesus may have been baptised.

Footings of the first church above which 2 others were built near where it is thought John baptised Jesus in the Jordan.

A baptisimal event or perhaps reaffirmation across on the Israeli side of the Jordan.

We now head back into the mountain region for Mt Nebo where Moses saw the Promised Land. By this time we had encountered a sand storm of sorts which substantially reduced visibility. There is a Franciscan Church complex being built atop Mt Nebo which overlays a much older church site.  Moses  is thought to be buried somewhere in the valleys below and not atop the mountain.

Looking through the dust at the Promised Land from atop Mt Nebo

Much driving south sees us reach Petra in the early evening.