Today we visited Jerash, Jordan. Jerash is a well-known biblical site, mentioned many times in the Bible. For example, it is mentioned as the place of the Wadi Jabbok, the riverbed where Jacob wrestled with God.
Jerash contains the largest Roman archaeological ruin site in the world. It was constructed at the time of the Emperor Hadrian, in the 1st century A.D. It was simply amazing. It contained Hadrian’s arch, the Hippodrome (where chariot races and gladiator competitions took place), an oval marketplace, a theater and a temple; all of this separated by hundreds of Roman columns and limestone paved streets.
The temperature was very hot today, but with the low humidity, it did not seem too bad. We stopped at the Green Valley Restaurant where I had the absolute best pita bread (with poppy seeds sprinkled liberally on top) that I have ever eaten. I ate so much it was embarrassing. What can I say? I liked it.
Tomorrow we will drive through the Jordan river valley on our way to Petra. We will be traveling all day.
