As an American living in Jordan, Ramadan can be a lonely time. Many of my local friends are exhausted during the day, and busy with family in the evenings. Occasionally, however, an invitation comes to break the fast with them. Daniel, myself, and my son recently had an amazing meal […]
An hour and a half northwest of Amman, the district of Al Ayoun (north of the famous Ajlun Castle) is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to visit. In a country that is 90% desert, Al Ayoun is a breath of fresh air with the Mediterranean climate, ancient olive […]
Thankfully, in Arab culture, much of the load of traveling with kids is lifted. I have […]
Wadi Rum is often touted as the place in Jordan for adventure and Bedouin culture. But if you do some planning before time, you’ll find some exceptional cultural experiences around Petra itself.
Here are some photos of off beaten path experiences you might want to include when planning a Petra tour.
“Is this a relative?” I ask our Jordanian host, motioning to a large portrait of a mustachioed man. Though not on par with Panayot Hitov, his ‘stache could have given Sam Elliott a run for his money.
“That’s my brother,” replied Marwan. “Look at that mustache… He used to be a man! Then his […]
In The Avengers, Tony Stark asks, “You ever try shawarma?… I don’t know what it is, but I want to try it.”
Well, Tony Stark, you are in for a treat. Shawarma is one of the reasons I love living in Jordan. After watching The Avengers, I decided to stroll down […]
Preserving Petra is no easy feat. After all, just because Petra has been called a city “half as old as time,” that doesn’t mean it will be around forever.
Carved some 2,000 years ago, this ancient city has managed to stay remarkably well preserved through the centuries. What are some of the threats to The Rose […]
Our friends at The Abraham’s Path Initiative and the Ayoun Community Project have started weekly walks in this beautiful area of Northern Jordan. If you’re traveling in Jordan, or live here and want to experience this surprisingly green side of Jordan, check it out.
Walks are held each Saturday and include a locally prepared lunch in […]
I recently discovered the hardest question you can ask an Arab: Fairuz or Umm Kulthum? Taxi drivers in Amman typically answer this question: “This is too hard.” or “You cannot ask this question.”
Fairuz and Umm Kulthum are Arab singers. Umm Kulthum was born in Egypt in 1898 and died in 1975. According to Wikipedia, “More […]
Staying at the Ammarin Bedouin Camp within the Petra Archaeological Reserve helps the traveler enter into the atmosphere of ancient Petra. How jarring it is, then, when they pull up to the front gate and feel like they’ve walked up to the Disneyland gift shops.
My preferred way to enter Petra […]
