Some complain the western influence has watered down the culture. We'll let you reach your own conclusions. We loved the people, and the sites of Petra and Jerash are world-class and awe inspiring.

Dispatches

• Welcome: Deliverance.
• Canvas and Color: Flaming red desert.
• Around Amman: Roman majesty and lonely desert castles.

Photos
(To come)

Random Thoughts and Tips

• To get "off the beaten track" in Petra, just as you reach the entrance to the Siq turn right into the side-canyon. There aren't ruins, but the natural beauty is amazing. Follow the canyon for about an hour, and eventually you'll loop around the to the left and meet back up with the main part of Petra.
• Do not skip Jerash.
• The "desert castles" loop outside Amman is interesting, and we're glad we did it, but it's definitely lower on the list that Jerash.
• We hired a driver to take us from Wadi Musa (Petra) to Amman via Shobak and Kerak (crusader castles), the Dead Sea, and Mt. Nebo. This was all very do-able in a day, and it was a great way to see a lot of history as well as see some interesting geography.

Our Route