Foto: View over the ancient city of Jerash (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Jordan - At Hadrian’s Gate, we enter the old city. Jerash is considered one of the most important Greco-Roman-Byzantine cities in the Middle East. Today, it’s a vast archaeological site. Through the old hippodrome, we walk into Jerash proper with Mohammed. He takes us into the vaults of the ancient temples. Inside, there’s a scale model of what it must have looked like in the past. It gives a good impression of the complex, and once outside, I immediately recognize the ruins from the model. From the Temple of Zeus, we walk to the South Theatre. In this semi-circular arena, performances were once held. The acoustics are incredible. If you stand exactly in the center, you can hear your echo throughout the arena. Take one step to the side and the echo disappears. A special experience. From the top row, I have a beautiful view of the theater—and when I turn around, also of the ancient city of Jerash. A Kodak moment!
Enchanting Petra
Jordan - The gorge leading to Petra is lit with hundreds of candles. We walk toward the gorge in the dark. Above us, a beautiful starry sky. We decide to let the other participants go ahead and hang back. This makes the experience even more special. We walk into ...
Floating in the Dead Sea
Jordan - Along the way, I enjoy the daily life outside. Meanwhile, Mohammed gives commentary about the history through the microphone. It’s a bit hard to hear, and I let it pass me by. We get out at a resort by the Dead Sea, where lunch is already waiting for ...
Wadi Rum desert
Jordan - Despite the chilly wind in the open Jeep, the Wadi Rum desert looks stunning. Wadi Rum is a desert valley with sandstone and granite cliffs. It is considered the most beautiful desert plain in Jordan. We first head to the Khaz'ali Canyon. Just after getting ...