Tower of Babble

Madaba, the 'City of Mosaics' famous for its 6th century map in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, is one of Jordan's chief historical and religious sites. Thousands of tourists visit this church and the environs of Madaba each year. For years I have driven in this area and marveled at the Madaba skyline with its church spires and minarets. Many times visitors have remarked on this skyline as well, especially that these symbols of Islam and Christianity are so close together in the same town.

But it has been for some time now that the communication tower erected so close to the church has really changed that skyline. How ugly it has become! Today I was passing by and decided to take these pictures so you could see what I mean. It was hard to get a good picture, but if you go there it is all to clear to see.

Can you imagine such a tower next to the Washington Monument or on Mount Rushmore? Or next to the Taj Mahal or the Great Wall of China or in the grounds of Stonehenge or the Tower of London? I can't believe that most Jordanians and especially the people of Madaba and the Ministry of Tourism really like this. Then again, maybe they haven't really noticed due to the abundance of so many misplaced ugly billboards. Ah well.......that's a subject for another blog........................z