Today was an early day - on the bus by 7:00 am for the drive to Jerash. Jerash is about 45 minutes north of Amman and is one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture outside of Italy. Archeologists have found ruins of settlements dating back too the Neolithic Age, which means human occupation at the location for over 6500 years. The first name was Arab/Semitic - Garshu. The Romans later Hellenised the name to Gerasa. The Bible refers to the region of the Gerasenes. At the end of the 19th century, the name was transformed into Jerash. The Romans assimilated Jerash into the province of Syria and later named it as one of the ten great cities in the Decapolis League. It had a north and south theater, a Cardo (shopping street), bath houses, a hippodrome for chariot races, churches etc.
Andrea Bocelli just gave a concert in the ruins of Jerash. They were taking the sitting area and stage down as we were walking through. I think it was a little more impressive than Ephesus.
Ajloun was our next stop. It is located west of Jerash and is in the small region of "green" Jordan. There were olive groves all over. The main reason for visiting Ajloun was the stronghold Qala'at al-Rabadh - a medieval fortress built between 1184-85 CE by the nephew of Salah Edwin al-Ayyubi. It was strategically placed to command the Jordan Valley as well as three smaller valleys leading to it. This location made it an important link in the defense against Crusaders. On a clear day it is said you can see the Dead Sea, the Jordan Valley, the West Bank and Lake Tiberius. There were 130 steps to the top of the fortress and, yes, I climbed every one!! I may pay for it tomorrow, but it was great.
Andrea Bocelli just gave a concert in the ruins of Jerash. They were taking the sitting area and stage down as we were walking through. I think it was a little more impressive than Ephesus.
