Hiking the Jordan Trail

Back last week from a fantastic few days in Jordan, thanks to winning those Easyjet flights at the tail end of last year. Late evening arrival into Amman/Queen Alia airport, where rescued by friendly Jordanian Tourist Board guy from the maelstrom of the visa queue and then whisked through customs etc and off to a hotel. Amman looked much the same as I remember it from the early 90s, all limestone buildings and roundabouts, but with plenty of obviously new construction going on and apparently 2 million-plus people living there now. It is a rather bland and potentially bewildering place at first sight, but the next morning we were taken to see the Citadel, now excellently presented and interpreted and thronged with tourists - an unusual sight right now in the Middle East... Great views from here over the city and down towards the Roman amphitheatre, plus the Temple of Hercules (complete with his dismembered hand). Plans are afoot, apparently, to redevelop the area between here and the citadel and somehow link the two, which would be a major improvement and create an impressive focal point for a city that otherwise struggles to have many.

From the citadel we headed out of the city and north, towards Jerash.