We had a restful night and a lovely breakfast at our hotel.... Now, let's go to Jerash! Honestly, I had never heard of Jerash. Travel is very educational.. even for me.. who knows everything. Jerash is a very well preserved Greco-Roman city on the old Silk Road, or the main east/west trade route in those long ago days... which was also the route of the Crusaders' armies. It was part of the Decapolis.. the ten largest cities of the Eastern Roman Empire. Basem took us off the path up into the temples and theaters, and we walked the whole length of the city and enjoyed ever moment.
Here is our happy group taking a sit-down at of the theaters.... you deserve a prize it you can pick out Gypsy! And an even bigger one if you find Cuz. (Thanks for the photo, Jan!)
What a treasure, Jerash. Basem is, himself, an archaeologist and frequently guides the groups that come from the British Museum to study and excavate. He was extremely knowledgeable about everything ancient.. from culture to architecture. We were lucky to have him. He explained to us how the ancients constructed and erected the huge marble pillars so that they would stand against the wind and even earthquakes. He inserted a key between the piller and its pedestal and gave the pillar a push. The key wobbled up and down as the pillar swayed.. but had we not seen the key move, we never would have suspected the pillar was swaying. These pillars have been standing for 2,000 with no need of reconstruction. In this electronic age, perhaps we underestimate the genius of our ancestors.
We then drove to see Ajlun. This is Saladin's castle built during the successful 12th Century campaign to drive out the Crusaders in 1189. What an interesting place it is.. a hodge podge of rooms and defenses.. including a drop for hot oil.. in case Saladin didn't like the company at the front door.
I have no idea how I kept from becoming lost in this castle.. with its many rooms and twisting stairways and passageways.. but a miracle occured and I stayed with the group. From the top of the castle we would have seen the Sea of Gallalee if it had been clear.. but it was a dusty day. Nevertheless, it had a commanding view of the whole area and especially the King's Highway for miles and miles. There would have been plenty of time to heat up that oil!
From Ajlun, we drove to the town of Anjara to see the church of Our Lady of the Mount, which is a one of the Holy Pilgrimage Sites of the Catholic Church. We saw the grotto and the statue of the Madonna and Child, the very same that performs the odd miracle now and again.
