June 20th to July 3rd

The last 2 weeks traveling around Jordan with my sister Lynne and her friend Mary have been simply wonderful.  We have been able to see almost the whole country, and together we have explored all the remarkable historical sites such as Petra, Jerash, Umm Qais, the Jordan River and the Dead Sea.  We also had the privilege of meeting many Jordanians in their homes and work places – a carpenter in his humble workshop, a blacksmith, and an elderly man operating a simple flour mill.  We were invited to visit a farmer, Saad Rabardi and his family.  They seemed self-sufficient with goats for their mild and yoghurt, chickens for their eggs, a wheat field to grow their grain, a small vineyard from which they produce their wine and a large olive grove that provides them with their main source of income.  They invited us into their home and treated us to a marvelous mid-morning snack of tea, bread, yogurt and labeneh.  He is a Christian and was proud of the wine he makes from his vineyard.  He offered us a taste but it turned out to be a very potent port, and I had some difficulty disguising my surprise at the beverage because of his warm hospitality.  Even if I had been a seasoned wine drinker I am sure that a couple of glasses of the stuff would have been enough to put me on a life support machine.

Here are several photos from Jordan

The Roman Road in Jerash.  See the ruts in the limestone paving from the wheels of the chariots, and notice the man hole cover that gave access to an underground drainage system

Enjoying the warm hospitality of the farmer Saad Rabardi and his wife and son -  with Lynne, Mary and our driver Fathi

Some beautful mosics on the floor of an old Byzantine chuch in Madaba