December 20, 2010

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan - Alluring Historical And Contemporary Vacationers Alike

Jordan is a small country located in the Middle East that holds incredible amounts of history. Much of this history and much of the religious influence that helped Jordan to grow are still prevalent today, making Jordan a vacation spot that's outside of the box. There are many, many historically and religiously relevant places to see in Jordan, such as the lost city of Petra, the mountain where Moses saw the Promised Land, the brook where Jesus was baptized, huge Crusader castles, and the fortress where John the Baptist was executed. Traveling here or anywhere will require that you get a passport. Get yours by going online and filling out your United States passport application forms.

Online passport processing sites make handling all of your passport needs a breeze. From these sites, you can access all sorts of passport services, from adding more pages to your passport to getting an emergency passport renewal. These sites were made to help citizens of the US get their passports quickly and safely, and they can help you do just that.

Petra is a world famous archaeological site, as well as UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's easily the most famous archaeological site in Jordan, and definitely one of the most famous in the entire world. This ancient city, carved straight out of the side of Mount Hor, was built in the 6th century BC by the Nabataeans. With the nickname "The Rose-Red City" for the beautiful color of the stone from which it was carved, Petra is a stunning sight. One of the most impressive things about Petra is the advanced aqueduct system its inhabitants utilized in order to make Petra an artificial oasis. In order to reach Petra, you have to walk through a dark and narrow gorge entitled the Siq. Stepping out of the gorge is amazing as the landscape of the city opens before you, with the Treasury, the Ampitheatre, the Tombs, the Hadrien Gate, the Cardo Maximum, and the Theatre, from which you can see the whole city.

Another World Heritage Site in Jordan is Qasr Amra. Qasr Amra is a desert castle that stands today as one of the best representations of Islamic art and architecture in the world. Only the foundation of this castle remains, but it in itself is quite spectacular, making imagining it in its complete state a little breathtaking. There are examples of Islamic art on the inside, including a fresco of hunting women and an image of the zodiac.

Yet another archaeological World Heritage Site located in Jordan is Umm ar-Rasas. This site is a melting pot of influences, as it has evidence of three different civilizations: Muslim, Byzantine, and Roman. It's because of this mixed heritage that it has become a World Heritage Site, and it's really interesting to see in person. The famous mosaic floor on the Church of St. Stephen, which was created in 785, is actually the largest mosaic in all of Jordan. This very well-preserved piece of art is an ancient map; it shows the different cities in Jordan at the time it was made.

As you can see, there is a lot to uncover in Jordan. It's hard to go anywhere without encountering something reflecting Jordan's past. Just remember that you will need a passport if you are thinking of traveling anywhere. Go online and fill out passport application forms to get your adventure started, and don't forget these sites offer many other services, such as emergency pass port renewal for if you need your passport in a hurry.

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