Day 2 - Desert castles and tour of Amman

We travelled to the east of Amman this morning and into the North Arab Desert to visit 2 very remote "castles".  It was much warmer today and very sunny.

The first was Al Harama.  This is not a true castle but was built before 710 AD.  It is thought to have been a stopping place, or caravan station to give traders a place to rest while making the journey from Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, through Jordan to Palestine, the Mediterranean and onwards to Europe.

The building is symetrical and built over 2 floors and has remained largly intact for 13 centuries with only some damage on one side caused by the elements.  Vertical, slanting vents have been built into the outside walls, not only to let in light but so that during sandstorms, sand and dust is not blown into the rooms but collects in grooves and can be easily be removed.

 
Al Harama Castle

 
Inside the castle

 
The inner courtyard with damaged wall

 
Muslim decorations at top of wall

 

We then visited Amra which was built in the early 8th century.  Again this is not a true castle but was used as a Hunting Lodge.  Hunters would come here to rest.  It is very much roman style with original frescos on the walls and ceilings in remarkably good condition.  It also has a deep well from where water can be collected.  Our approach here was slow as we had to follow a camel along the road.

 
Follow that camel!!
 
 
Amra Castle


 
Ceiling in one of the rooms

 
Ceiling fresco

 
Wall and ceiling frescos 


 
Wall Frescos


 
The well and equipment with system to draw water

 

We drove back to Amman for lunch and then were taken to the Citadel, which is on one of the 7 hills that Amman is built on.   This site has been used for human settlements for over 7000 years and has seen many wars, earthquakes and sieges.  It is referenced in the bible as "Melchom".  We walked around the site and museum and saw various ruins and artefacts from many eras. 

 
View of Ampitheatre and residential area from Citadel

 
Hercules Gate

 
Paul and I at Hercules Gate

 
Turkish Hammam

 
Bronze Age Cave

 
View over Amman


 
Turkish Hammam

 
Little Lizard on the wall.

We were taken down the hill to see the Ampitheatre which is much larger than the one we saw yesterday.  It is still used for performances.

 
The Amman Ampitheatre

Our last visit of the day was a walk around the old part of Amman and to the souk.  It is very busy and difficult to cross roads as traffic does not stop at crossings, unless there are traffic lights.  Drivers always stop at red lights as the punishment for not doing so is a term in jail.

 
Gold Street - every shop here was a jeweller

 
Street in the old town

 
The main Mosque (where the call to prayer is broadcast from)

 
Various seeds, nuts and lentils in the souk

 
Vegetable stall in the souk

 
One of the souk streets

 
Main thoroughfare with houses build into the hill.

After a short break back at the hotel we headed out for dinner.  In the restaurant entrance there was a camel, so as we were leaving a few of us had our photo taken with it.








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