Jordan Rocks, part 9

Amman. What an amazing city. What a crazy city! We thought we'd seen some crazy driving - in Tanzania, in India... even in Birmingham! Then we got to Amman. Talk about a free-for-all! But, we had a good driver getting us around town, so we weren't worried (and were totally safe, moms and dads!)!

We didn't really know about what was in Amman to see and do, so we relied heavily - completely - on our friends, David and Judy. The first night, we headed up to the Citadel in the middle of the city. It used to be the actual city, so you get an amazing 360 degree view of what has come to be modern-day Amman. We got there after it had closed for the day, but Brad worked some of his Arabic-speaking magic, and the guy let us in AND let us in for Free! Yay!

"The Hill of the Citadel (Jabal al-Qal'a) in the middle of Amman was occupied as early as the Neolithic period, and fortified during the Bronze Age (1800 BC). The ruins on the hill today are Roman through early Islamic. The name "Amman" comes from "Rabbath Ammon," or "Great City of the Ammonites," who settled in the region some time after 1200 BC. The Bible records that King David captured the city in the early 10th century BC; Uriah the Hittite, husband of King David's paramour Bathsheba, was killed here after the king ordered him to the front line of battle." (info from this website)

It's really cool up on the hill of the Citadel site because you can see what seems like the whole city!

 Panorama attempt

 The next few pictures are from Hercules' temple.

There's a Roman amphitheater visible from the top of the hill. We didn't get to go to it - but just wait until the next post...

 There are ruins on this site from a Byzantine church, from a mosque, from a palace... It's amazing to see the cultures on top of each other!

 This is the church site.

 My friend Judy walking along one of the roads to the palace site.

 There's me. Standing on Roman ruins. How cool is that? I kept saying, "If this was in America, it would be all roped off and you wouldn't be able to touch anything!" There, we could climb on and explore as we wished! (Cool moon in the background!)

 Cutie pie, loving her some rocks!

 Looking out over another view of Amman. Just buildings upon buildings! 

 And behind us is the world's 2nd largest/tallest free standing flag pole.

 Impressive, huh?

 Sweet friends, David & Judy.

 Lucy & Brad, doing some climbing on a wall from the palace site.

 Who knows what this once was... But Lucy climbed in and sat there for a few minutes!

 Walking through the mosque (maybe it was still the palace?) site

 Hercules' temple, all lit up at night.

 We got to the Citadel right before the sun started setting, so the lighting was amazing! God's work is so masterful! He always puts anything made by human hands to shame! 

It was really a beautiful evening! And after that, we headed to Fuddrucker's to have some yummy burgers for dinner! It was a great first night in Amman!