Jordan - Day 2 & 3

On the way back from Petra to Amman, we decided to take the scenic route. It's at least an hour longer than the route we had taken to get there, and Google Maps tried to get us to change directions the whole way, but it is by far more interesting. It's the old "King's Highway" which runs through various hills, mountains, and for a good chunk of the way, next to the Dead Sea. It was definitely a fun drive, with dips and inclines and dangerous turns. H wasn't too pleased in some parts, but it was definitely the better choice.

We arrived fairly late in the afternoon and by the time we met our AirBnB host, there was little time for sightseeing. Instead we got ready for dinner and went off to Sufra. Located in Rainbow Street near our place and with fantastic reviews, it was definitely high on our list. The seating and atmosphere at Sufra is really great, the place is much larger than it looks, with a cute little garden in the back.

The food itself was quite good, albeit slightly disappointing. We were expecting so much more in terms of flavor than what we got.

On Day 3, we headed off to the north to visit Jerash and Ajloun, Jerash being an ancient Roman city back when Jordan was a Roman outpost, and Ajloun being a fort, high up in the north.​

Both places were interesting, but if I had to pick one, I would pick Jerash. It is by far more impressive with its colonnaded streets and market place, its colosseum, and other typical roman architecture. It was however almost unbearably hot. Unlike Petra, there is no areas of shade at Jerash, and having to walk with the sun beating down on your head can be unpleasant. We had to stop twice in the few spots of shade we did find just to cool down. Walking through Jerash was much more exhausting than walking and trekking through Petra.​

Ajloun as a fort is less impressive. It's not unlike other forts but it does offer a bird's eye view from on top of the mountain for miles around. It was surprising cool inside the fort and therefore a much needed respite from the heat.​

The way back to Amman was a little unpleasant. We had planned to walk around and explore Amman until dinner time, but unfortunately we had a small car accident on the way. It was a hit and run, where even though the damage was minimal, led to various complications issuing a police report. We ended up spending 3 to 4 hours there, which really just ruined our entire afternoon.

We were rewarded with a fantastic dinner though, this time at Fakhreldin Restaurant. Dinner was absolutely fantastic. Everything we ordered was an explosion of flavor. The presentation and service was also great. It is a fancy place and on the pricey side, but definitely delicious.