JORDAN, A PLACE TO VISIT AT LEAST ONCE

Hi Charlie, how are you ? I want to talk to you about an exciting trip I made some years ago with my family to Jordan. Just to share my experience and memories with you. 

So what are the place I visited ?

As my uncle lived in Amman at the time, we stayed there the 2 first days with my parents and my sister. But then, we lent a car to do a road trip.

First destination, UMM QAIS in the north. We visited the archaeological site of Gadara, which was a centre of Greek culture in the region during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Okay, you may think that it was boring (because visiting ruins isn't my preferred thing either) but we had a marvellous guide who talked about this site's history as if he were there. It really sounded like a story and you could almost imagine what the buildings looked like more than 2 milenaries ago... 

Here are a few pictures :

                       

                  

I loved how the architecture melded with the natural landscapes, the combination of colours and textures was beautiful to admire !

Then, we headed to the DEAD SEA ! When you enters the beach, you can se a lot of trays with mud from the dead sea and mirrors. This sea is known to have a lot of beneficial elements for the skin (In Jordanian tourist shops you can find a lot of products coming from there). So people are supposed to put this mud all over their bodies and wait while sunbathing... After, if you don't want to swim, there are open public showers so that you can rinse yourself. But if you want to do things right, you go and rinse yourself in this super salty sea. Since humans float there more easily than in any other place, you literally can't swim ! However, seating and laying on water is very easy. It's really a great and funny experience :)

The next place we went to was PETRA, a historic and archaeological city in southern Jordan. It has been founded by the the "Edomites" at the end of the 8th century B.C. The most famous part of it is the old temple called "Al-Khazneh" ("The Treasury" in Arabic). This mind-blowing structure was carved out of a sandstone rock face during the 1st century AD ; and was originally built as a mausoleum and crypt. I really liked this place because when you enter the protected site, you start walking through narrow paths and you feel the humidity of rocks... Then, you see it... A big orange figure in the middle of the place ! Really, I would love to go back to Jordan just to watch it once more with the rest of the city. Also, I "rode" a Camel there for the first time in my life ! As it is much taller than a horse, I was scared at the beginning. Especially that when they get up they swing from front to back.
Here's a picture of the "Al-Khazneh" :

The last place we went to, before returning to Amman was Wadi Rum (Also known as the "Valley of the moon"). It was my favourite place by far in this trip ! This orangeish desert with its strangely shaped mountains is actually a known filming location. For example, parts of Alladin (2019 live action), Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Dune (2021), were filmed there.
We camped there with my family and experienced camp fire in the middle of the desert, sledging on fine sand and we also ate a traditional Bedouin dish called "Zarb". It consists of meat, and a variety of vegetables, including potatoes, carrots, and zucchini (also rice on the bottom of the rack). The food is placed on metal racks and it's then slowly roasted in coal-filled pits that are carefully covered with blankets. 

At night, the sky is beautiful to behold as this place is far from pollution and city lights. So you can see the stars and the moon clearly (And I know some moon lovers here ;))

Here are some photos of the place :

                            

Now, apart from what I visited in Jordan, I want to share some of the delicious things we ate there...Because what is a trip if you do not try new food ?

In my case, it wasn't really new because I was born in Syria and the food in the Middle-East is quite similar, but you surely do not find these things in France. (Sorry the pictures do not come from me)

• Firstly, the "Fatayer" :

It consists of little Arabic "pizzas" with different garnish like cheese, spinach, "Zatar" (Thyme), meat, peper sauce... The one I miss the most is the "Zatar" one because you cannot make exactly the same in France, at home, as this type of Thyme isn't easy to find. Besides, you need a wood-fired oven. (See the picture in the middle) The other sorts of "Fatayer" are actually reproducible.

• Secondly, the "Shawarma" :

An Arabic chicken sandwich made with flat bread, garlic sauce, pickles and other crudités.  The special things are the spices and the way the chicken has been cooked. It actually roasts on a turning vertical cylinder which makes it crispy and tender at the same time (And no it has nothing to do with a "Doner Kabab", which is Turkish). The more oily it is, the best it is (Trust me, I usually hate fat things but the taste of this sandwich is really balanced)

• Finally, "Al Knafeh" :

It's a dessert made with spun pastry called "Kataifi", soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup, and typically layered with cheese, or with other ingredients such as clotted cream, pistachio or nuts, depending on the region. A must-try if you go one day to an Arabic country ! Knafeh is one of my favourite comforting desserts 😋

Well, I hope you enjoyed this article.

See you ! ❤