Jordan continued ....

We spent most of a day in Madaba, the "City of Mosaics". In this city you can see a 6th century mosaic map of Palestine and the Nile delta at the Greek Orthodox Basilica of Saint George. We took a wrong turning and ended up seeing unexpected parts of the city - here is a candyfloss seller carrying his wares:

This is a close-up of one of the mosaics in St George Basilica - such fine detail!

When we left Madaba, we drove via Mt Nebo, the mountain top where Moses was shown the Promised Land and where he died. The road was in great condition and consisted of a lot of switchbacks - it was not recommended at out hotel for us to drive over, but it was much more enjoyable than the main road into Amman, mainly because there was little traffic! Here is a Bedouin tent, one of a great many we saw throughout Jordan:

Although June is summer-time in Jordan, and I found it REALLY hot, I very much enjoyed being there. The people are very friendly and welcoming and I felt safe on the streets.
The exchange rate is not very favourable for New Zealanders (JD2.5 = NZ1.0) but the country is so poor because they do not have water - so I am reminded when it rains, yet again, just how lucky we are in this green country.
I can fully recommend Lonely Planet: Jordan as an excellent resource. The book is a great size to carry with you when travelling and not only gives THE places to see and stay, but also recommends places to eat (very helpful if you want to try the local food).