Officially referred to as “The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”, Jordan was one of those places we were told we HAD to see before leaving the Middle East. With an impending move on the horizon, we decided to experience this majestic land ourselves.
Bordered by Saudi Arabia, Syria, Israel, and Iraq, Jordan is a place that historically captivated ancient travelers. Today, Jordan enthralls millions of tourists with its energizing cities, biblical history, mysterious Petra, inexplicable Dead Sea waters, and the ancient beauty of Wadi Rum. This is the story of our fabulous Christmas holiday, 2009.
Christmas 2009: Jordan
Amman at night
Amman in the morning
the Citadel
Wall painting-- 3300 BC
Dead Sea Scrolls
Roman ruins
Mammoth size
Amphitheater in Amman
Xavier in Jarash
Roman arch in Jarash
Kids exploring
Anouk climbs the ruins
Unearthed columns
to the amphitheater in Jarash
Rob and Anouk
Beautiful columns
Temple
The Roman road
Philadelphia (the original name of Amman) beer
Mt. Nebo...brush off your Old Testament
View to Jerusalem, Dead Sea, and Jericho
Looking for the place Jesus was born
Anouk, the model
Part of the mosaic floor at the Church of Mt. Nebo
Kids posing
St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church
The antique floor under St. George’s Church--just roll the carpet out and services resume
Anouk lights candles for her teacher
Xavier lights candles for his family and friends
Rob finally gets in a photo
On our way to Karak Castle
The men of Jordan
Looking over the great escarpment
Our prince looks over the King’s Highway
The hallway leading to the sleeping quarters in the Karak Castle
The stables
The view from Karak Castle
Blocking the gorgeous view from the castle
Our hotel in Petra
Looking out at Petra
Petra at sunset
Angela at the hotel
Petra in the morning
Kids ride down into Petra
Our walk to the Treasury
The “fish” rock (from the side)
The “fish” rock becomes an “elephant” rock when viewed from the front
The final opening before the Treasury
The Treasury
Our family in front of the Treasury
Steps carved into the sandstone to a cave home
Angela and Anouk peer through a volcanic rock opening
The boys
Anouk and Zaid in front of the volcanic rock
Cave houses
Anouk drinks her juice and pretends to “Skype” Tricia
The Navataeans stole from their travels. Carvings depict their Roman influence.
Xavier chills amongst the ruins.
Smiling with a his loose tooth
More cave dwellings
Anouk’s new friend #1
Anouk’s new friend #2
Bedouin girl selling postcards
Erosion at it’s finest
Our hike out begins
The tired trek begins
A lazy drive up the hill perhaps?
Camels wait for tourists for a jaunt down the hill
Again at our hotel in Petra
Xavier pulled out his own tooth! Now he can sing, “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth”
The desert at Wadi Rum
Xavier draws in the sand
Ancient Bedouin rock drawings
Angela tries to “read” the rock drawings
The “Ferrari” of the desert. Apparently they offer free air conditioning. Only 5 JD!
Xavier poses in front of “Lawrence of Arabia”
A slow walk up the sand dunes
Sandscape
Keeping Anouk busy on the long drive to the Dead Sea
Keeping Xavier busy on the long drive to the Dead Sea
A view of the Dead Sea from our hotel
Angela looking through the menu
The dead sea at sunset
Angela’s foot in the Dead Sea
Rob floats effortlessly in the Dead Sea
After burned skin (from the salt) the day before, the kids deiced to play at the Dead Sea Shore
Playing by the pool
Anouk takes pictures of Mama
Anouk takes pictures of Papa
Anouk takes pictures with Mama
Anouk takes pictures of our last night in Amman
Anouk taking self portraits in the closet in Amman
The Rob and Anouk totem pole
Anouk plays on the plane
Rob and Anouk on the way back to Kuwait
The short flight “home” to Q8
If you need to pray to Makkah--this picture shows you in which direction to pray
