Hello again,
Arg! I spent 2 hours writing this and for some reason it didn't save! Take II.
Also, feel free to visit my Facebook page Link to Natalie's Facebook Page if you would like to see more pictures. I not be posting all 205 of today's pictures on my blog.
Yesterday I woke up early and wanted to go off on an adventure and see something new. So I decided to crack and finally buy the LonelyPlanet guide to Jordan and admit to myself that I am a nerdy tourist. One of the suggested sites that Lonely Planet told me to go to was the Citadel. The day before, I had asked SIT people if they wanted to go to the Citadel with me. After many no's and many more no responses, I decided no one wanted to go with me. This did not surprise me as I am hardly the popular girl in the group. I tend to think differently and want different things from the rest of the group. No side is better and I state this fact without judgement. With LonelyPlanet confirming where I wanted to go, I packed up my backpack and hailed a taxi near my house. I figured the day would either be extremely bad or extremely good since I was naviagating the city alone. I looked up some Jordanian words before I left to help me navigate better. I figured the risk was worth taking. I did not come to Amman to quietly sit in some cafe or to go to bars. I could have done that at home. I want to explore and see new things and ideas. Today was the day I would sink or swim.
The Taxi I hailed was driven by an old man wearing a red kefiya. I asked him in Arabic to take me to Jabal Qal'a, or the citadel. He looked confused and said some things I didn't understand, but within a second, the taxi was soaring down the road. At this moment I started to worry. Would I get to the citadel? Was I nuts for trying to fly solo? Why did the man not seem to know where the citadel was? Soon enough, the taxi drove through downtown and started climbing the massive hills that are actually mountains in Amman. I started to feel better. At least I was going up a mountain.
I actually reached the citadel with ease and within 10 minutes from leaving my house. The man dropped me right off at the visitor's enterence. I checked in with the desk and paid my 2JD for the ticket. Then I walked through the gates to the citadel. I was amazed to see such a clear view of all the ruins. I immediately looked at the Temple of Hercules, the most prominent part of the citadel. The temple of Hercules in Amman is larger than any temple in Rome, and that's a fact! Next my eyes were drawn to the amazing panoramic views of all of Amman. It was breath taking. I have honestly never felt so relaxed in my life. It was so peaceful. I could spend forever in the citadel. While at the citadel, I also saw remnants of the Roman forum.
The Roman Theater could sit 6,000 people comfortably. The highest seats are referred to as "the gods" and the stadium is oriented so the sun does not hit spectators so much. I have been there, but this is the view from the citadel.
L
Arg! I spent 2 hours writing this and for some reason it didn't save! Take II.
Also, feel free to visit my Facebook page Link to Natalie's Facebook Page if you would like to see more pictures. I not be posting all 205 of today's pictures on my blog.
Yesterday I woke up early and wanted to go off on an adventure and see something new. So I decided to crack and finally buy the LonelyPlanet guide to Jordan and admit to myself that I am a nerdy tourist. One of the suggested sites that Lonely Planet told me to go to was the Citadel. The day before, I had asked SIT people if they wanted to go to the Citadel with me. After many no's and many more no responses, I decided no one wanted to go with me. This did not surprise me as I am hardly the popular girl in the group. I tend to think differently and want different things from the rest of the group. No side is better and I state this fact without judgement. With LonelyPlanet confirming where I wanted to go, I packed up my backpack and hailed a taxi near my house. I figured the day would either be extremely bad or extremely good since I was naviagating the city alone. I looked up some Jordanian words before I left to help me navigate better. I figured the risk was worth taking. I did not come to Amman to quietly sit in some cafe or to go to bars. I could have done that at home. I want to explore and see new things and ideas. Today was the day I would sink or swim.
The Taxi I hailed was driven by an old man wearing a red kefiya. I asked him in Arabic to take me to Jabal Qal'a, or the citadel. He looked confused and said some things I didn't understand, but within a second, the taxi was soaring down the road. At this moment I started to worry. Would I get to the citadel? Was I nuts for trying to fly solo? Why did the man not seem to know where the citadel was? Soon enough, the taxi drove through downtown and started climbing the massive hills that are actually mountains in Amman. I started to feel better. At least I was going up a mountain.
I actually reached the citadel with ease and within 10 minutes from leaving my house. The man dropped me right off at the visitor's enterence. I checked in with the desk and paid my 2JD for the ticket. Then I walked through the gates to the citadel. I was amazed to see such a clear view of all the ruins. I immediately looked at the Temple of Hercules, the most prominent part of the citadel. The temple of Hercules in Amman is larger than any temple in Rome, and that's a fact! Next my eyes were drawn to the amazing panoramic views of all of Amman. It was breath taking. I have honestly never felt so relaxed in my life. It was so peaceful. I could spend forever in the citadel. While at the citadel, I also saw remnants of the Roman forum.
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| View from Citadel |
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| Temple of Hercules |
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| Temple of Hercules from a distance |
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| Something Roman lol |
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| Roman AAmpitheather |
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| Just some columns...nbd |
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| View of around the citadel |
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| Me in front of the temple of Hercules |
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| Something stony |
A Fallen Column
A Mosque I saw from the Citadel. Looks like Abu Darwish Mosque but it is not.
Roman Amphitheater from the Citadel
 Also at the citadel are the ruins of a Byzantine Basilica. This basilica was built between the 5th to 6th century and is flanked by columns. 
Ruins of a Byzantine Church at the Citadel
 The real reason I wanted to go to the citadel was to see the Umayyad Palace. The Umayyads were the second caliphate that ran the Islamic Empire after the death of Muhammad. A Caliph was the political ruler of the Islamic Empire that ran the empire after the death of Muhammad. The caliph had a non religious role. He was NOT a prophet. The Umayyads were known for their decadence, their corruption and their wealth. They were eventually overthrown because of this by the Abbasaid Caliphate. The Umayyad Palace was completed during the 8th century. It is not surprising to find this palace in Amman since the Umayyads were based in Damascus. The Dome covers the audience hall that people would have seen when they entered the palace. The palace is built in the shape of a cross since it was built over an existing byzantine basilica. 
The real reason I went to the Citadel was to see this, the Umayyad Palce
More ruins of a Byzantine Church
 
A side passage in the Umayyad Palace
The ruins of the main gate leading to the Umayyad Palace
After the Ruins, I decided to go to the museum. Here I found some interesting stuff.
Coffins
After the Citadel, I went to visit some of the mosques I spotted from the citadel. The first mosque I visted was Abdullah II mosque. This is the only mosque in Amman that allows non muslims to enter and look around. The mosque was completed in 1989 in memory of King Abdullah I, the founder of Transjordan. Abdullah was assassinated in Jerusalem at Al Aqsa mosque by a Palestinian man that disliked how Abdullah was going to sign a peace agreement with Israel. It is amazing how the large prayer hall does not have any columns to support its dome. When entering the mosque, women are supposed to wear a black Abaya, or cloak with a hood. I felt like a dementor in Harry Potter and wondered how my hot pink back pack fit in with the outfit.
King Abdullah I's Mosque. It has two minarets
Dome of King Abdullah's Mosque
Where you wash before prayer. Before Prayer, Muslims preform ablutions to cleanse their bodies. Below is a link that explains ablutions.
A main prayer room
Dome in the main prayer room. The blue represents the sky while the gold rays represent the 99 names of Allah. These 99 names are derrived from names and atributes given to God in the Quran.
Stained glass in the main prayer room
 
Smaller dome over perhaps another prayer room.
Abu Darwish Mosque
Obvious renovation work on the Abu Darwish mosque. Kind of makes me disapointed.
Until next time,
Natalie
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