Amman 2004

We actually stayed in Amman in two different stretches in 2004. At the beginning of the "Final Trip" that capped off our semester Study Abroad, we spent a few nights in Amman. Amman was also the city we were flying out of, so we spent a few more days there at the end of our study abroad.

Much like Aqaba, Amman stood in stark contrast in our minds with Egypt in general, and Alexandria in particular. While Alex grew to feel like a claustrophobic port city, Amman was a sprawling, relaxed mountain town, the hills covered with limestone-faced houses. It was particularly pretty at sunset.

My starkest memory from these trips to Amman is from when we were on top of the mountain where the old city of Ammon was during biblical times. The tour guide pointed out that the long valley to the west, which is where the modern city mostly sits, was the beginning of the ancient road that connected Ammon to Jerusalem. It's also the best route for an army invading from Israel to take.
It's entirely possible, then, that that was were the Israelite army was attacking when Uriah was sent to the front lines. It was kind of eerie, thinking about the history that had occured in the vicinity of where I was standing. Indeed, I had that feeling many times throughout Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.