the rough guide to jordan

ROUGHGUIDES THE ROUGH GUIDE to Jordan I S B N 978-1-84836-066-2 9 781848 360662 52499 About this book Rough Guides are designed to be good to read and easy to use. The book is divided into the following sections and you should be able to find whatever you need in one of them. The introductory colour section is designed to give you a feel for Jordan, suggesting when to go and what not to miss, and includes a full list of contents. Then comes basics, for pre-departure information and other practicalities. The guide chapters cover Jordan in depth, each starting with a highlights panel, introduction and a map to help you plan your route. Contexts fills you in on history, cultural background and books, while individual colour sections introduce the Jordanian people and the wonders of Petra. Language gives you an extensive menu reader and enough Arabic to get by. The book concludes with all the small print, including details of how to send in updates and corrections, and a comprehensive index. This fourth edition published September 2009. US$24.99 CAN$29.99 The publishers and authors have done their best to ensure the accuracy and currency of all the information in The Rough Guide to Jordan, however, they can accept no responsibility for any loss, injury, or inconvenience sustained by any traveller as a result of information or advice contained in the guide. 9 Z V Y   H Z V  GjlVnh]^Y 6fVWV 6ogVf >gW^Y BVYVWV BVÉVc @VgV` 6BB6C A:76CDC >HG6:A HNG>6 L:HI 76C@ >HG6:A >G6F H6J9> 6G67>6 ?6LA6C <DA6C=:><=IH B : 9 > I : G G 6 C : 6 C H:6 @EH:7D N /               6bbVc I]Z9ZVYHZVVcYVgdjcY ?ZgVh]VcYi]Zcdgi] I]ZZVhiZgcYZhZgi I]Z@^c\Éh=^\]lVn EZigV I]Zhdji]ZgcYZhZgi VcY6fVWV Jordan written and researched by Matthew Teller The Rough Guide to www.roughguides.com [...]... armies led by the Hashemites – a noble dynasty, now led by King Abdullah II of Jordan, which traces its origins back to the Prophet Muhammad – overthrew the rule of the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East The flag has three equal horizontal bands At the top is black, representing the Abbasid Caliphate that ruled from Baghdad in the eighth and ninth centuries; in the middle is white, representing the Umayyad... it’s important to travel thoughtfully and responsibly, with respect for the cultures you’re visiting – not only to derive the most benefit from your trip but also to preserve the best bits of the planet for everyone to enjoy At Rough Guides we feel there are six main areas in which you can make a difference: local economy, and how much the services you use do the same, whether it’s through employing... important Christian town and regional ̆ Highway in the eastern desert 10 The search for water centre for mosaic art during the Byzantine period, houses the oldest known map of the Middle East, in the form of a large mosaic laid on the floor of a church After the Muslim conquest, the Umayyad dynasty built a series of retreats in the Jordanian desert, now dubbed the “Desert Castles”, including the bath-house... Arabia – presents the classic desert picture of Jordan, and is the starting point for camel treks of anything from an hour to a week Less well-known are the gentle northern hills around the Ajloun forests, hosting walks through flower-strewn meadows and cool, shady woodland In the south, the tranquil Dana Nature Reserve encompasses a swathe of territory from verdant highland orchards down to the sandy desert... There are plenty of opportunities to get off the beaten track in Jordan s back country for a day or a week, whether alone or with an adventure tour company 19 | ACTIVITIES | CONSUME | EVENTS | NATURE | SIGHTS | 20 08 Dana Page 250 Jordan s flagship nature reserve, covering a sweep of territory from highland cliffs to the sandy desert floor Whether you come for the hiking, the natural environment or the. .. 248 Stoutest and starkest remnant of the Crusaders’ occupation of the country 14 Umm Qais Page 176 Atmospheric Roman and Ottoman site in the far north of Jordan, offering spectacular views over the Sea of Galilee – and relatively few tourists 13 The King’s Highway Page 217 Meandering its way north and south along the lonely hilltops, this most picturesque of historic routes links the farming towns... INTRODUCTION | WHERE TO GO | WHEN TO GO developed an urbanized, entrepreneurial culture, dominate private-sector business For their part, Jordanians of Palestinian origin – estimated to make up as much as sixty percent of the population – often resent the “East Bank” Jordanians’ grip on power in government and the public sector All are Jordanian citizens, but citizenship tends to mean less to many of Palestinian... Aqaba The best time to visit is spring (March–May), when temperatures are toasty but not scorching, wildflowers are out everywhere (even the desert is carpeted), and the hills and valleys running down the centre of the country | INTRODUCTION | WHERE TO GO | WHEN TO GO extensive opportunities for bird- and wildlife-spotting The protected Wadi Mujib is a giant canyon, 4km wide at the top, that narrows to. .. INTRODUCTION | WHERE TO GO | WHEN TO GO catch it, this can be a lovely time to visit The first rains fall in early or mid-October, making the parched countryside bloom again and the torrid temperatures drop to more manageable levels In winter (roughly Dec–Feb), Amman can be desperately chilly, with biting winds sweeping through the valleys, rain showers and even snowfall, although the sun is still never... Syria, and all the major valleys leading down to the Dead Sea are now dammed in an effort to stop water draining into the salty lake (which has contributed to its rapid shrinking; see p.131) Every winter the local newspapers publish reports tabulating levels of water storage in the country’s reservoirs, while Jordanians anxiously wait for rain Water rationing is in place in Amman over the summer it . ROUGHGUIDES THE ROUGH GUIDE to Jordan I S B N 978-1-84836-066-2 9 781848 360662 52499 About this book Rough Guides are designed to be good to read and easy to use. The book is divided into the. 2009. US$24.99 CAN$29.99 The publishers and authors have done their best to ensure the accuracy and currency of all the information in The Rough Guide to Jordan, however, they can accept no responsibility. far south to the vast stony plains of volcanic basalt in the east. The northern hills, rich with olive trees, teeter over the rift of the Jordan Valley, which in turn runs down to the Dead