It's spring time ....

Blog About Jordan Day ... 24 hours late!

Last Friday was Orange Festival time in the North at Tabkat Fahel, (or Pella as I discovered). So we headed south, direction the Dead Sea for the Jordan Valley, as the warmth of the weather brought many families out to savour the fleeting glimpse of spring. 

The drive over was just wonderful to see the mountains covered in a blanket of green with wild iris and mustard seed bursting fort; it felt like a privilege as it would only last for a few weeks before the ever advancing heat from the sun would dry it all up and turn it into dust. It was just as well that we had time on our side because without realising it, we had taken the long, scenic route from the Dead Sea, a trip that would take us almost three hours .... even my husband hadn't realised that Tabkat Fahel was actually the arabic name for the archaeological site of Pella - and the easier, shorter route would have been from Jerash in the north! However, we enjoyed seeing the Jordan Valley in bloom, as we drove along through agricultural village after village, our nostrils filled with the pungent smells of fertiliser and the like, with the odd welcome aroma of pine trees and orange blossom that was music to our senses. Orange festival here we come ... if only we could find it!  And as if the colours around us were beckoning us on we came across a colourful campsite of seasonal agricultural workers that waved us on our way.  

Pella rest house in the distance ...we had arrived!

... and a warm welcome from the locals ...

It was a peaceful day as we returned to Amman via Jerash just in time to watch the sun set over the King Talal Dam.

Next year, on BAJD, I hope to get in before the eleventh hour!

J