We are leaving early to get ahead of the rest of the big, big tourist buses.

There are tents here and there along the road…. They are not Bedouin tents but for farmers to use by the day…. for their animals and shade during the day. They all have open doors with no privacy. I don’t know if they have homeless communities like we have. Apparently they do have a slight drug problem but it is “still in the closet”…. not visible.

We are driving on the King’s Way from Roman & Greek times. It was built to connect from Damascus to

Madaba … translated “the land of water and fruit”.

It’s an area of caves… used by Christians to hide from the Romans in ancient times.

Mt. Nebo is our first stop… where Moses passed away. Official Christian pilgrimage place ….. also a moslem pilgrimage place (who recognize the Christian prophets). Complex of 4 churches. Moses wandered for 40 years in the desert. They we forbidden to enter the promised land….. were diverted through Jordan. Moses consequently died here. Olive tree planted by prophet John Paul 2nd. Mosaics in the church were left undiscovered til 19th century. Cross and serpent symbol

There 4 springs (oasis?) in Jordan…… one is here nearby.

St George’s Church …Greek Orthodox built in 590 Ad. It had a map hidden under floor. Hidden because Persians that were marauding in the area at this time, destroyed lots. The crusaders took faces off paintings, etc cuz were people were worshiping the Virgin Mary and prophets etc instead of God. The map showed 120 biblical sites. Only 10 were evident on the visitors map.

Madaba Mosaics factory. they use the ancient techniques. They get the rocks from mountains. Sliced into strips. It takes 4 years to learn trade. They use a glue made of flour and water to start, place the cut stones on a solid board. They have a rough irregular surface. When it is finished, it is flipped onto permanent place using a more sufficient glue It will then have a smooth surface. 48 of 50 employees are special needs. Some workers are blind. It takes 200 hours to make ostrich eggs from left over “dust” particles.

Crusaders castle at Karak built from 1142-1161. It is close to Jerusalem… (40 kms). It was used as a base to go to Jerusalem. Built in 1184…. Besieged for 80? days by Saladin after many previous attempts, they gave up. Moab people. Then became moslem going forward. Turks added parts. Crusaders used to sleep underground. Largest in Middle East

It was a city of 3000 people inside plus 700 outside. Entrance/doors …when Moslem controlled the castle ….faced south to Mecca, and when Christians controlled it, they faced Jerusalem toward the west.

Military rooms hold 8, with view to be able to see oncoming armies

Window to see the mosque

Cisterns below. … 11 very deep ones

It is 50 kms from Dead Sea

Shobak… another crusader camp from time of Richard the lionhearted

Petra (Wadi Musa)- half carving, part buildings. Nebateans … nomadic peoples. Came end of 6th century BC ……. Came from the Sinai peninsula. Learned agriculture, used to produce wine.

1 million years ago this area was under water. The area is all sandstone…. Easier for carve. It is in the largest chain of mountains in Jordan.

Higher the facade the more money, the higher the official. They had no statues. Water basins carved. No sacrifices in Little Petra. It’s only a place if business.

Jordan mines phosphate for export. Other main industries are agriculture, livestock & tourism

Egypt/ Jordan exchange water and electricity. The electricity is produce from oil in the past, which they have to purchase. Now they get it get from windmills. They also get water from underground wells from desert near Iraq. Water is brought in by truck and put into cisterns on top of roofs.

Pictures to follow ….. if I have wifi