Jerash part I

This is on the way back form Petra, about a 3 hour car ride. More than enough time to suck in the environment.

A little more greener here, These Mosque belltowers are always so intriguing to me. I suppose if I lived here they would be no big deal, but I don't. Which makes them neat.

So when Europeans come to America they always comment to me about the abundance of American flags and how there's all this obvious pride. "No, its not like that in Europe." They tell me. They obviously haven't been to Jordan, a nation the of small size but more pride than all of Europe combined.

The forests here amaze me. You think Jordan = desert, right. Not really. Well, mostly, but its got as much varience as you'd see in the US or England. Also, notice the road... no divider lines. people drive like mad here.
A few atypical clouds in the morning on the way to Jerash, home of some Roman ruins.

Some farming in teh foreground and more white blocky cities. From the car I couldn't tell what it was that they were growing, I assumed olives but Those don't really look like olive trees...

Ah, I think everyone remember's their first Roman victory arch. This was mine. It was Hadrian's. I saw it at the entrace to Jerash.
The coolest aunt in the world, Mary Ann, and Johnny in front of the arch.
Johnny gets his hands on some historical reality. It's amazing how approachable everything is. If there was a Roman victory arch in the US... well, they would be crazy as all get out... but they're be about 20 meters between you and the arch, bulletproff glass, those nets to keep birds from landing on it, and probably 15 armed guards. In Jordan this isn't so, best place in the world.
Another detail shot. I can't get over how awesome this thing was. It was huge, it was sandy, it was Roman. I touched it and so have emperors.

Petra Treasury

Terry and I victorious.
The town outside Petra.

Some ruin on the way out of the Petra area, its amazing to see this old stuff just hanging out everywhere.

Horses, everywhere! And usually someone offering you a ride for an extortionate price. I would have, but there was so much to see and look at on the way between the entrance and the actual sites.

Little water duct along the side of the road used to supply the city when it was running.

Ah yes, the Treasury. Seriously on of the coolest things I've seen. And I'm not saying that just because it was in the Indiana Jones film, but this thing is a work of art, carved into a mountainside. It's liek Mt. Rushmore, but cooler.

But everyone must have taken this shot. When you're in the approach to the Treasury you come in between two tall canyon walls and at first you get this tiny glimpse and then a little more and a little more... The shot captures this I believe. It's also on the cover of the travel guide for Jordan, but I found this out right after I got back into the car to head back.
More details.
There's some people in the front to give you an idea of scale. The door way is mammoth. You can walk right up to it and check it out, but it doesn't go too deep, not surprising because without ventilation or electricity it makes going deep in the mountain difficult back then. I don't suppose they were trying to build a bunker after all.
Another, more full shot of the Treasury.
Interior of the Treasury.


Too cool.