Showing posts with label Roman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roman. Show all posts

Thursday, 24 September 2009

Jordan cont ... Amman

Even though the distances of Jordan pale in comparison to the miles we were to cover in Egypt, we decided to stay the night in Amman before our return south. Though there is very little to do in Jordan's capital, it was worth the visit. Nestled in a small valley the city exudes an energy that gives it a noticeable charm as we wandered around taking in the new and the old. At this point in the journey I was taken by a need to capture people in their everyday life. Not always subtle, my best photos captured people when they were unaware of me and spared me the indecision of taking a photo when they were looking


Our walk that morning took in many little shops among which my favourite was the spice shops and its exotic wares.

One of the largest most chaotic markets I have ever seen crowded into narrow spaces vibrant with colour and the bustle of people going about their day.

The final Roman temple of this leg of the journey overlooks Amman from the hilltops from where the occupyingv Roman army controlled the area.
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Jordan

The journey continued as two good friends from the UK joined me for almost three weeks of travel starting in Jordan. Though we had planned to return to Egypt via Jerusalem events in Gaza led to a change that encompassed Petra, Amman, Ajlun, Jerash and a return to Egypt via Wadi Rum. The scope of our journey took in the fantastic Nabataen culture of Petra before heading to see the equally immense Roman remains of Jerash. Moving foward in time we visited Ajlun, a fort, created to protect against the threatening Christian nations. We finally ended our journey in Wadi Rum, simliar to the White and Black desert in its mountainous scope, this place was once home to Lawrence of Arabia and the desert warriors fighting the Ottoman Empire.
The Treasury at Petra


The Monastery at Petra


Atop the highest peak in the inmmediate vicinty the Jordanian flag succumbs to the winds that blow through this arid land.


The columns of Jerash number over a hundred in what remains of an immense city.
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