Jordan Day 4 2012 – Citadel, Madaba and Mt. Nebo

Taking a cab to return to our room in Jordan Tower Hotel, the activities for today would be to visit the various attractions within the city of Amman before moving on to another town. One of the reasons the choice of the accommodation was because of its proximity to these attractions, all within walking distance. But it also meant more noises unfortunately.

From the accommodation, we walked towards the Citadel. From the map it seemed like a straight forward walk but had some slope to climb. Furthermore, we had to make a detour along the road to reach the main entrance to the Citadel. Guide service was available and we engaged him to understand the culture and the history of this grand site.

Ruins of the Temple of Hercules.
Ruins of the Temple of Hercules.
Ruins of the Citadel.
Ruins of the Citadel.
On the inside of the Citadel monumental gateway.
On the inside of the Citadel monumental gateway.
Monumental Gateway.
Umayad Monumental Gateway.
Panoramic view of Amman city from the Citadel.
Panoramic view of Amman city from the Citadel.

The guide was very informative and brought us around the site, introducing the different buildings and their period of significance. We were then left to roam the area and visit the Archaeological museum within the Citadel after he was done.

One of the earliest statue of human civilization, at the Citadel museum.
One of the earliest statue of human civilization, at the Citadel museum.

Our next stop was to visit the Roman Amphitheatre just across the road from the Citadel. Didn’t stay long as it was just like another Amphitheatre elsewhere. We visited the small museum where they were some exhibits but mostly to take cover from the heat.

Roman Amphitheatre in Amman.
Roman Amphitheatre in Amman.
Museum within the amphitheatre.
Museum within the amphitheatre.

It was lunch time and we found one (couldn’t remember the name) that served lunch and offered sweet pastries. Returned back to the hotel for check out and to take over our car from the Reliable Rent a Car representative for travel onwards. As it was challenging to drive out of Amman, we were driven to the outskirts by the representative to the outskirt before I took over as driver. Onwards to Madaba, the Mosaic City.

More Kebab.
More Kebab.
Chix and chips.
Chix and chips.
Jordanian coffee.
Jordanian coffee.
Tried sweet Jordanian desert.
Tried sweet Jordanian desert.
Takeaways for the sweet tooth.
Takeaways for the sweet tooth.

The drive was pretty easy on the highways though there were many manned portable speed traps. I learnt that drivers tend to share the information if there are speed traps ahead and these drivers coming from the opposite lane would usually flash their headlights to give warnings to slow down. Nice!

Our first stop was to check into Mosaic City Hotel. The hotel was pretty new and within walking distance to the town where the attractions were. Parked our car at the carpark next to the hotel and checked in.

Mosaic City Hotel.
Mosaic City Hotel.
Dining area of Mosaic City hotel.
Dining area of Mosaic City hotel.
Nice huge bed.
Nice huge bed.
Decent clean toilets.
Decent clean toilets.
Comes with a table and fridge.
Comes with a table and fridge.
And a balcony.
And a balcony.

With a map in hand, given by the receptionist, we continued on foot to the attractions Madaba had to offer. St. George church was our first stop.

St. George Church.
St. George Church.
Inside the St. George's church.
Inside the St. George’s church.
Many beautiful mosaic pictures on the wall.
Many beautiful mosaic pictures on the wall.
Mosaic map of Madaba on the floor.
Oldest mosaic map of Palestine on the floor.

The town of Madaba was really small and walkable. The next location was the Shrine of Beheading of St. John’s the Baptist.

On the streets of Madaba. A huge mosque in sight.
On the streets of Madaba. A huge mosque in sight.
Shrine of the Beheading of John the Baptist.
Shrine of the Beheading of John the Baptist.
Mosaic picture of Baptism of Christ at Bethany beyond the Jordan.
Mosaic picture of Baptism of Christ at Bethany beyond the Jordan.

Below the surface was a museum to explore. There was a really old Moabite well that was said to be functional till date.

Old Moabite well still functional.
Old Moabite well still functional.
Picture showing the beheading of St. John.
Picture showing the beheading of St. John.
And an eerie beheaded head statue.
And an eerie beheaded head statue.

Then we walked to the end of main attractions area where the sat the Church of Apostles. This was a church that had the biggest mosaic, covering the whole floor of it. There were some footpath for us to walk about as we explore the massive area to look at the mosaic pictures.

Church of Apostles.
Church of Apostles.
Detailed mosaic of a cat.
Detailed mosaic of a cat.
Animals and trees.
Animals and trees.
Thalassa mosaic.
Thalassa mosaic.
Covering the entire floor of the church.
Covering the entire floor of the church.

Before walking back to the hotel, we chanced upon a Madaba Archaeological park I and so we went in to look see.

Original wall mosaics. At the Church of the Virgin.
Original wall mosaics.
Still uncovering and protecting the mosaics of the past.
Still uncovering and protecting the mosaics of the past.

We thought we had enough of mosaics for the day. The next location was to drive to Mt. Nebo not too far from Madaba to catch the sunset.

Panaromic view while waiting for the sunset.
Panaromic view while waiting for the sunset.
Sunset at Mt. Nebo.
Sunset at Mt. Nebo.

Drove back to Madaba and walked to the a restaurant recommended by the hotel staff, Haret Jdoudna. It was a beautiful place and a popular and crowded one as well.

Our dinner.
Our dinner.
Chicken and chips.
Chicken and chips.
Haret Jdoudna.
Haret Jdoudna.

Nice little town of Madaba left us with an overdose of Mosaic art.

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