Jordan Day 12/17: Last Night

We stopped for lunch at a restaurant where they made their bread right outside in a clay oven and serve it hot and fresh. YUM!

There was also a momma camel and her baby just right there next to the parking lot. I never got used to just seeing random camels everywhere...

Jerash was about 30 miles from Amman...

We drove by a Safeway store on the way back to the hotel. It was close enough that I knew I had to go. So we met up with Matt and Ashley and headed out...

When we got there the doors were chained shut. I was so disappointed until a security guard inside motioned for us to go around...

Grocery stores, as you probably know, are my very favorite place to buy souvenirs and see what real life is really like where we are. This was so exception. It was a giant department store, two stories, much like our Fred Meyer's stores. I don't always take pictures, but this time I just couldn't help myself. It was so beautiful... :)

the produce section looked just like our Safeway

they really like mayo!

and Nutella

and cup o noodles

and Kit Kats

bulk spices and honey

interesting drinks

boxed milk

sheep yogurt

canned lunch meat

and a gorgeous cake case

We bought a few drinks, some water, and this Lion candy bar. My curiosity was piqued...

Played a quick game of UNO with Matt and Ashley in the lobby. Joined the group for drinks before dinner. And took a shot of the "gang" before we all went our separate ways...

Matt, Melissa, Ashley, me & Chris

We left early in the morning to catch our flight back to the States...

waiting in the first of many lines

It was an uneventful flight home. Andy picked us up at the airport and we went to eat a hamburger. Apparently it is a tradition... :) 

Jordan Day 12/17: Jerash Part One

Jerash (ancient Gerasa) is our guide Joseph's hometown and was also one of the cities of the Decapolis in the Bible. Jesus' message spread there but He never visited the city. It is arguably one of the largest and best-preserved Roman cities of the ancient world, with the exception of Rome itself.

Gerasa was founded by Alexander the Great as a military outpost in 331BC. After it was conquered by Rome in 63BC, it remained a Roman city until 749. In the Byzantine era it was a Christian city with 25,000 citizens and more than 20 churches. Persian and Muslim conquests in the 7th century and a devastating earthquake in 749 followed by further earthquakes in the next hundred years,  caused the city to be abandoned. It was rediscovered in 1806 and restoration began in 1925.

 The city expanded south outside of the city walls in the 2nd century to Hadrian's Arch, built in 129-130 to commemorate the emperor's visit.

The first church we saw was the Church of Marianos, built in 570 amid subterranean 1-2nd century tombs...

Then we came to the Hippodrome. The original seated 10,000-15,000 spectators but little of it remains as it was raided by settlers in the late 19th century. Now it has reenactment shows for tourists...

We talked to both this group of school girls on a field trip and this Roman reenactor outside the Hippodrome...

The visitors' center was just before the South Gate of the city...

I loved the use of  old water bottles for this flower bed

Then we reached the original Southern Gate of the city...

We then made our way to the Oval Plaza...

The Temple of Zeus overlooks the plaza...

The South Theater is the largest of the three theaters in Jerash. It was begun in 90AD and had royal boxes and awnings for shade. When we were there we got to listen to a bagpiper play, watch the school girls dance, and listen to some of our group sing...

To the north of the Oval Plaza, the Cardo Maximus extends for a half mile...

hard to believe some of the columns still stand after 

the earthquakes

A large market contained numerous shops and stalls...

these animal carvings are in front of the butcher's stall

a lion carving

We continued down the Cardo...

There were many merchants selling their wares. This guy actually made these sand art bottles, famous in Jordan, while we watched. So I bought one...

Still walking down the Cardo Maximus...

Until we reached the gateway to a Roman temple that was rebuilt as a church called the Cathedral, the oldest church in Jerash...

From the top we went to the Temple of Artemis...

Near the temple are several Byzantine churches built between 368 and 611 with exquisite mosaics! It's hard to believe they look so good while out in the weather! Some of the churches were actually built with adjoining walls...

There was also a hydraulic stone saw...

Then we went to the smaller North Theater...

Outside the North Theater you can also see the North 

Gate in the distance

The North Gate

It was a very long trek from one end to the other, so we really had to hustle back to the bus...

I love the random pieces all just stacked together