3.1. Amman, the Dynamic Capital City
Begin your stay in the
capital, Amman - safe, friendly and modern. No more than five hours drive
from anywhere in the country, it is a convenient place to use as a base for
our tour.
Amman is the modern and ancient capital of Jordan, formerly the Ammonite capital
city of Rabbath-Ammon, and later the Graeco-Roman city called Philadelphia.
Originally spread over seven hills like Rome, Amman now covers at least nineteen
hills. It is a city of contrasts, it has a diverse mixture of ancient and
the modern.
Often referred to as "the white city", the homes of Amman are built
on many hillsides and form a great canvas of overlapping beige, ochre and
white. The outstanding brilliant white scenario is the result of the white
stones of the country used in construction. They are rough - hewn, smooth
or lightly veined, and even polished white marble.
The city, with its population of over one million, is crowned by the Citadel,
a hill with the ruins of the Temple of Hercules, and a museum with artifacts
dating back to the earliest settlement in this region some 700,00 years ago.
At the foot of the Citadel is the 5,000 seat Roman theatre.
Still rapidly growing, Amman is a busy commercial and administrative centre
with many fine hotels, night clubs and discos. It boasts very modern facilities
for sporting events, conventions and conferences. There is a wide spectrum
of restaurants to meet every taste. We will select delicacies from a variety
of food ranging from Arabic as well as other international specialities and
fast food.
Contents of the Guide Book
| 1. | Welcome to Jordan |
| 2.. | The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan |
| 2.1. | Geography, Climate and Borders |
| 2.2. | Entry and Departure Procedures |
| 2.3 | Population |
| 2.4. | Currency |
| 2.5. | History |
| 2.6. |
Government |
| 2.7. | Economy |
| 3. | Jordan, where the Adventure awaits you |
| 3.2 | Amman, the Dynamic Capital City |
| 3.2. | The
Kings´Highway (Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Mukawir, Wadi Mujib, Karak, Shobak) |
| 3.3. | Petra, the Spectacular Rose-Red City |
| 3.4. | The Cities of Decapolis (Pella, Gadara, Abila, Philadelphia, Gerasa, Umm el Jimal) |
| 3.5.. |
Following
the Footsteps of "Lawrence of Arabia"; |
| 3.6. | Aqaba, Jordan´s year-round Red Sea Resort |
| 3.7. | The Dead Sea and Termal Spas; The healing power of the Dead Sea; The Hot Springs of Zarqa Ma´in |
| 3.8. | Biblical Sites in Jordan |
| 3.8.1. | The
Biblical Sites from North to South; Gadara, Anjara, Pella, Bethany, Machaerus, Madaba, Mt. Nebo, the Kings´Highway, Wadi Musa, Sodom & Gomorra, Ayla |
| 3.9. | Nature Reserves in Jordan; Wadi Rum, Dana, Zubia, Azraq, Shaumari |
| 4. | The Tourist Facilities in Jordan |
| 4.1. | Transportation;
Flight Connections, Tourist Buses, Bus-, Train-, Ferry-Connections; Car Rental and Driving in Jordan |
| 4.2. | Communication |
| 4.3. | Sports; Aquatic Sports and Diving; Horseback Riding and Camel Trips; Ballooning; Glimbing and Hang-gliding |
| 4.4. | Culture and Entertainment; Museums and Galleries; Festivals; Other Entertainments |
| 4.5. | Restaurants |
| 4.6. | Shopping and Souvenirs |
| 4.7. | Tourist Guides |
| 4.8. | Accommodation; |
| 5. | Incentive Travel |
| 5.1. | Incentive Special Events |
| 6. | Helpful Facts about Jordan |
| 6.1. | Best Time to Travel and Safty |
| 6.2. | Tipping (Bakshish) |
| 6.3. | Holidays, Ramadan, Business Hours |
| 6.4. | Local Customs - How to Dress? |
| 6.5. | Electric Current, Water Supply |