Life's a Stitch

Qasr al-Asraq was out first stop, about 60 miles from Amman. To give you and idea of it's location, these were the choices at the main crossroads.

On the way we passed a UN refugee camp that housed 40,000 Syrians in a model consisting of four villages of prefabricated buildings, not the tents you see frequently in the news. Families live together in one room. There are schools with classrooms of 75 students, a hospital, health clinics, a solar power plant, 390 shops, and community centres. 100 babies are born there monthly. There are income generating programs for refugees as well as the availability of 1300 work permits for employment outside of the camp. I'm sure it's not as rosy a picture as the one painted on the UN website. After a career in community social services I found it fascinating.

The Asraq fortress was built by the Romans and was in use in the 13th-16th centuries and again in 1917-1918 where the real Lawrence of Arabia based his operations. It was strategically located geographically and had access to water from a nearby oasis that no longer exists.

The second stop was Qusayr 'Amra, built in 743 A.D., as a royal retreat including a bathhouse. The amazing feature of this castle was the extensive artwork – the frecoes covering the walls and ceilings.

Next up was Qasr Harrana, a 60 room castle built in 710AD, and there is debate as to its use: accommodation for caravan travellers, military fort, a Crusader's Castle, and the one use all historian agree upon, a meeting place for Bedouin leaders. 

It was interesting to visit three castles each with unique architecture. At all three stops, though, our guide noted the lack of tourists as ours was the only bus in the parking lots that day.

On to the Dead Sea. Again, the location was disconcerting given the state of the world, 6 km from Israel. We noticed hazy skies and suspected drifting smoke from Gaza or from farther away Beirut, but tour guides assured us it was "the hot weather."

We floated in the Dead Sea and slathered ourselves in the mud. You would think that the high salt content would dry your skin to a crisp, but the mud was very moisturizing. Our photos aren't very good as they were taken through a plastic bag. Afterwards we spent time at the pool prior to heading back to Amman.