Crazy week part 3

So I woke up at 0615 (must be the age...) and at 0645 I woke up Katja. We wanted to leave early in order to be in Umm Qais early to avoid traffic and floods of tourists. We got ready and at 0800 we were already on the road to Umm Qais. Umm Qais is very up noth some 30 km after Irbid in the tri-border area between Jordan, Syria and Israel.

Quote from http://www.visitjordan.com/default.aspx?tabid=176

Site of the famous miracle of the Gadarene swine, Gadara was renowned in its time as a cultural centre. It was the home of several classical poets and philosophers, including Theodorus, founder of a rhetorical school in Rome; one poet called the city "a new Athens". Perched on a splendid hilltop overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee, Gadara is today known as Umm Qays and boasts an impressive colonnaded streets, vaulted terrace and the ruins of two theatres. You can take in the sights and then dine on the terrace of a fine restaurant with a breathtaking view of three countries.

We got there quite fast. It was a two hour trip by car. But before we left, of course we went through a very thorough preparation. I went on google earth, checked the route, drafted a sketch and marked the important points where to turn, noted down the numbers of the streets and to be honest it looked very professional. I agree I am still not used to just do something without preparation and hoping that it will find its way. Or in other words to follow the Arab IBM way (those who speak Arabic know what I mean ;-) the others can ask me by e-mail what it means ;-) So after a briefing with Katja where to go, where to turn left and right and what street to follow, we finally hit the road. OK, first time we were really well prepared for all eventualities (I now even have a GPS on my cell... is really handy I tell you!) So, long story cut short: as Umm Qais is considered one of the most important tourist sites next to Jerash, Patra, Dead Sea, Aqaba and Amman, the road was PLASTERED with signs to Umm Qais! Every two meters a road sign. If you don't find the way to Umm Qais you should go and see the optician immediately... So the whole preparation was for nothing and we found our way without any problem. To get there we had to cross Irbid which is a bigger city in the north. Traffic was intense but not bad. We arrived in Umm Qais which is a small village and at the western end has a huge area with a former roman city (not only... all those who know better: please excuse my ignorance, but I am waiting impatiently until you guys get here to give us a proper guided tour ;-) At the gate we met an employee and tourist police who as usual were very nice, greeted us, wished us welcome to Jordan and as they saw that we were residents they opened up even more. People are very nice her I cannot stop saying this. We gad a quick chat and usually the conversation turns very fast into the bad result of the Italian football team at the world championship. “ Italy… very bad! Very bad this year!” This is what they usually say. To be honest: they really sucked this year. No more discussion on this. Period ;-) And yes Andy, the Germans played way better… ;-)

We went in and walked around and were thrilled by the beauty of the site and you can only imagine how beautiful I must have been in earlier times. There is one point next to the restaurant where you have a "drop jaw" view to the Syria Golan and Israel and as the weather was nice (no dust) the view was just great. The view is amazing, it blows you away. One point, three countries. Down in the valley green and the higher you get up the hills the less vegetation and the more color sand it becomes. Just awesome. Priceless.

So we walked around for about and hour under the sun and found the museum where they expose some very nice pieces and where they have a courtyard with pomegranate trees. It is nice as outside everything is quite dry and inside you see this contrast. Shade, cool, trees. (I posted some pics in my facebook album).

All over you hear and see lizards running awat as soon you approach them. Some are quite big, I’d say some 30 cm + but very fast! I managed to get one on a pic but the thing was quite far away.

We kept on walking and as it started to really heat up we decided to get back home as we will come back soon anyway...In sh’Allah.

Walking out we met a gentleman who was selling prickly pears. He thought we were tourists and wanted to sell us whatever. Believe it or not but it helps when you tell people that you live in Amman and you are a local.

So he stopped to sell us things and explained us what street to take to drive home and told us about his family. The road was a different one than the one we came. From Umm Qais you can take a left and drive along the Jordan/Israeli border though the Jordan Valley. It is just fantastic. Scenic view overload!! Again, we drove down from the hill, into the valley where there are endless palm trees, fruits and vegetables. Amazing to see the difference between the different levels of height. Green at the bottom and the higher, trees then grass followed by desert... you have to always keep in mind that we always drove some +/- 1000 meters down! It is every time very nice to see. We finally arrived to the street we drove last time and saw a marriage (see previous blog). The street starts here and goes down to the very south and ends in Aqaba (which is on the Red Sea). We drove down and took a left to Irbid where we joined that took us back to Amman. We arrived in Amman at 3ish and we were both dead tired as getting up early and being in the heat all day was demanding... we had both to put our head down. We got up and went for a chill out frozen coffee on a terrace to write our blog ;-) At dinner time we booked a table in a very nice Italian restaurant (OK I admit it... I a really an I Italian. I even eat Italian food in the Middle East ;-). The place is very nice. From outside it looks normal but inside they have a big outside terrace, even with a separate lounge section, with trees and water...you have the impression to be somewhere outside in a garden. Just sweet. So we enjoyed the fantastic dinner and finally the crazy week found its end. Another intense but very nice week ended. We are experiencing so many things and are getting so many new impressions that sometime Katja and I ask ourselves where to put all this information. Sometimes it is just overwhelming... Every evening when I come home we sit together and for sure we have something new to tell each other. Every day is a new challenge and a new adventure. But that’s why we love being her. On the other hand, if you ask me to tell you something I don’t like here I can say it to right away: It’s that you guys are not here. We are missing our friends and family and we cannot wait to see you guys. Either here in Jordan or back at your place.

So this was the long blog of our so far most intense week. I hope you enjoy being with us at least virtually and again, please send us an e-mail or pictures call us or do whatever you like. Every sort of feedback is more than appreciated!

Take care wherever you are in this world. We miss you all habibi (Arabic for +/- "my dear"). Big hug from Amman!