- Madaba
Early morning in Madaba. The day started with a muezzin call, followed by the church bells. - Mount Nebo
There were quite strong eastern winds, very warm and very dry. - Mount Nebo
Mosaics on Mount Nebo. - Mount Nebo
Mosaics on Mount Nebo. - Arabic numbers
So similar and yet different. 1933-1993. Although it is written from right to left, the numbers are written from left to right. - Mount Nebo
- Mount Nebo
"By the providence of God, this venerable monastery of the Holy Theotokos was rebuilt at the time of Job, Bishop of the people of Madaba and of George the Recluse. The 15th indiction of the year 6270." And in the corners are four rivers: Gion, Tigris, Eufratis and Fison. - Mount Nebo
Mosaics on Mount Nebo. - Mount Nebo
Mosaics on Mount Nebo from 762 AD. As far as I can tell, it says "Uper sotirias prosforas matronas", something about offerings to Saint Matrona. - Mount Nebo
Towards the Dead Sea - Dead Sea
Mud and salt. And apparently healthy. - Dead Sea
Aaaah, the salty cauliflowers - Dead Sea
The salinity of Dead Sea is 34 %. - Dead Sea
Already at -430 m "above" sea level, the sea level drops almsot 1 m per year! - Jordan
Local traffic. - From Dead Sea to Al Karak
From -430 m to +930 m. - Jordan
The tour guide exchanged money. Lots of it. - Kerak castle, Al Karak
Built during the crusades in 1140 and in a very good condition. - Kerak castle, Al Karak
A thousand years old kitchen - Kerak castle, Al Karak
The kitchen was illuminated from above. - Jordan
From Al-Karak towards Petra. - Jordan
From Al-Kerak towards Petra - Jordan
From Al-Kerak towards Petra - The Treasury in Petra
We were one of the last tourists in the Siq on that afternoon. - View through the Siq, Petra
- A very curvy part of the Siq
- The Siq, Petra
- Aaaand the Treasury, Petra
First view of the famous Treasury, Al-Khazneh, 1st century AD. - The Treasury, Petra
First view of the famous Treasury, Al-Khazneh, 1st century AD. - Opposite the Treasury, Petra
- The Treasury, Al-Kazneh, Petra
The Nabataeans carved it from solid rock. The Treasury is not really a treasury. People believed that a treasure was hidden in the urn at the top of the second level, but the urn is solid sandstone. This is the best preserved facade as it is very hidden and protected from the sun, the wind, the water. - Taxi in Petra
A typical scene in Petra. Camels are forbidden in the Siq but allowed behind the Treasury where the path broadens. - Petra
Nabataeans were merchants and traded with many different peoples from that time (some centuries BC to some centuries AD), as is best seen in their architectural influences (including Assyrian). - Petra
A typical Nabataean capital. It looks like an angel to me, spreading its wings. - Petra
Carved interior. - Petra
Rock pattern in a cave - Nabataean theatre in Petra
Most of this 1AD theatre was, in contrast to Roman theatres, carved out of solid rock. It seated about 8500 people. - Petra
Wonderful colours in the carved graves. - Petra
Detail of the carved graves. - Petra
There are graves, everywhere you look. - Petra
An estimated 30 000 people lived here. - Byzantine Chruch in Petra
A boar that boarded Noah's ark. - Byzantine Chruch in Petra
The church is from the 5th century AD. The mosaics are over 70 square meters and full of exotic and mythological animals. - Byzantine Chruch in Petra
Is this a camel-shaped giraffe? Or a giraffe-patterned camel? Giraffel? - El Deir, the Monastery, in Petra
Built by the Nabataeans in the 1st century AD, it is carved from solid rock and about 45 m high. - The Monastery in Petra
The facade is beautifully illuminated in the afternoon. - The Monastery in Petra
Sitting on a rock and watching the Sun set is pretty much the best thing one can do. - The Treasury, Petra
And the Treasury the next morning. Magnificent at any time of the day. - Siq, Petra
Left and right from the path the sophisticated irrigation system is visible. - Petra at night
In front of the Treasury. - Night in Petra
We returned late at night to the Treasury. - Jebel Haroun in Petra
View from Jebel Haroun (1350 m). On the saddle below the summit is a huge Byzantine monastery. - Jebel Haroun
This is where Moses's brother Haroun (Aaron) is buried. - Rocks in Petra
Rocks above our hotel, Petra Guest House. And the Moon! - The Moon above Petra
- Cave Bar in Petra
- Above Petra
- Al Madras trail in Petra
View of the Treasury. - Streets of Facades in Petra
These are in Assyrian style. - Cave Bar in Petra
- The Siq, Petra
This is how the Siq looks like from above. - A flower in the "desert"
- Seven Pillars of Wisdom in Wadi Rum
Am I the only one who sees only six pillars? - The path through the Makharas Canyon
- Details on the rocks in Wadi Rum
- The cooks preparing the dinner
- Desert of Wadi Rum
In February, the temperature reached 32 deg C. I can't imagine how hot it must be in summer. - A climber's paradise
Or hell :-) - A sweet little camel in Wadi Rum
- Probably some sort of Gagea from the lily family
- A Bedouin passing
- Aaah, the dunes.
The tire tracks, however :-( - Typical Wadi Rum
- A tiny tree in the desert
About 20 cm tall. - Perfection
- I take only pictures and leave only footprints.
Literally. - Rock creations in Wadi Rum
- Sunset in Wadi Rum
View from my tent. We slept outside, though, as it was so gorgeous. - Early morning in Wadi Rum
- Bedouin toaster
- Wadi Rum
- Wadi Rum
And again, car traces. What a shame. - After sunset
- Late in the afternoon
- Early morning view from my tent
- My faithful companions
- Camels in Wadi Rum
- The famous red dunes of Wadi Rum
- Heavy traffic in the desert
Snakes? Lizards? - The mountains, the desert and good weather
- Trekking in Wadi Rum
- Khazali Siq
A woman giving birth. The carvings are probably Thamudic and/or Nabataean, so probably 2000 years old? - Khazali Siq
Thamudic and/or Nabataean inscriptions:a couple, an ibex and feet. Probably 2000 years old. - Khazali Siq
- Road sign
- Street signs in Jordan
We were about 150 km away from Saudi Arabia and about 500 km from Iraq. - The Desert Highway
- Agios Georgios, St. George, Greek church in Madaba
The mosaic is the oldest known map of the Holy Land, dating from the 6th century AD. It depicts the river Jordan and the Dead Sea (at the right). Fish are swimming towards the Sea and then returning.