Quenching your thirst for travel
The ancient Roman city of Jerash (also known as Gerasa), and the current modern city by the same name, are located about 48km north of Amman, Jordan. It’s the second most-visited site in Jordan, with Petra being the first. Background People have inhabited this area as far back as the Neolithic Age, around 7500–5500 BC. Archaeological … Read more A Stroll Through Jerash, Jordan
Everyone has heard of the Great Pyramids of Giza and the mysterious Sphinx that guards them. But the pyramids of Saqqara aren’t nearly as famous. This actually makes them a great place to visit, since they aren’t nearly as touristy as the Great Pyramids. It’s also the place where pyramid building got its start. So … Read more Exploring the Lesser-Known Necropolis of Saqqara, Egypt
While in Egypt, we visited probably a half dozen temples. After a while, they can sort of blur together. The Temple of Kom Ombo, however is one that is particularly interesting in design. The Temple of Kom Ombo is located in Upper Egypt in the Aswan Governorate. The temple was built in the 2nd century BC, … Read more The Temple of Kom Ombo, Egypt
The Temple of Edfu is one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. It’s also the second largest temple in all of Egypt, with the Temple of Karnak being the first. History The Temple of Edfu was originally dedicated to the falcon god, Horus of Behdet (the original name for Edfu). It was built on … Read more The Temple of Edfu, Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt are some of the most iconic and fascinating man-made architectural achievements in the world. They are also overrun with tourists, fake security guards, aggressive camel drivers, and vendors selling cheap and chintzy souvenirs. But don’t let those drawbacks stop you from seeing these engineering marvels. They’re worth visiting, even … Read more What to Know Before You Visit the Pyramids of Giza
The Dead Sea is one of the most unique places on earth. It’s also one of the most fascinating and mysterious! Here are a handful of tips and facts that you should be aware of to get the most out of your visit! 1. Step in and soak up centuries of history Straddling the borders … Read more 8 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting the Dead Sea
Abu Simbel is the site of two ancient temples located in Aswan, Egypt. At least, this is where they’re located now. But how they got here was no easy feat. First, a bit of history: The ancient Egyptians built the two temples in the 13th Century BC under the reign of king Ramesses II (aka … Read more The Engineering Marvel of Abu Simbel
I’m the first to admit that I am NOT a morning person. Last year, when we were in Prague and my husband opened the blinds early one morning, I screamed and clawed at the sunlight streaming in like an angry vampire. So imagine my disposition when I’m awakened at 1:30 AM to go on a … Read more Hiking Mount Sinai to Watch the Sunrise
Of course, no trip to Jordan would be complete without walking through the spectacular archaeological site of Petra. It was already well known before being used in the pivotal ending of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. But the movie brought even more fame, and tourists, to this site. And this fact is not lost … Read more Exploring the Ancient City of Petra
A short hike through the striking city of Amman, Jordan gets you to Jabal al-Qal’a, known in English as the Citadel. (Jabal is Arabic for “hill”, and Amman is built on seven hills.) This is a national historic site with evidence of settlement as far back as the Middle Bronze Age (1650-1550 BC). Numerous civilizations … Read more Walk Through Centuries of History at the Amman Citadel, Jordan