Spring Time In Jordan

 When you think of spring time, what comes to mind? Flowers, sun, rain, warmer weather, green trees and grass; for me spring break and spring Holy Days come to mind. Living in Jordan I have taken the opportunity to travel as often as possible since it is so feasible. Spring break and the spring Holy Days were two more opportunities to see some amazing places. 

During spring break, I went to Cyprus with Amanda and Jane (an American teacher from ABS) for five wonderful days. We flew into Larnaca, secured our rental car, and we were off to see the city. The unique thing about driving in Cyprus versus the US is that they drive on the opposite side of the road and the drivers side is on the opposite side of the car. The adventure had truly begun! We explored Larnaca and got some food from McDonald's before heading to the hotel in Paphos. On day two we drove to the Troodos Mountains to see Mt. Olympus, which turned out to be a bit disappointing. The landscape however was beautiful, we did some exciting off roading in the rental car, and Amanda ended up driving across a stream in order to get back to the main road. Next time I'll check the map better to make sure direct routes are really shorter than the indirect routes. After a full day in the car, we decided to sleep in, relax, enjoy our hotel and the warm sun. 

Day four was the best day of the trip; we went to Polis to see the Baths of Aphrodite, took and amazing boat tour around the cap, and had a great meal. The Baths of Aphrodite are in the nature reserve so we did a bit of hiking, enjoyed the beautiful scenery and saw a herd of goats. Jane's flight left early on day five from Larnaca so after we dropped her off at the airport we went to Ayia Napa. While in Ayia Napa we did some shopping, walked around the town, sat on the beach and got the best gyros I have EVER had in my life. Then we headed back to Larnaca to catch our flight back to Amman, what a great adventure. 

For the spring Holy Days the H-Team traveled to Tel Aviv to spend the time with the Hoyer family. The Register's and Francesca also spent the Holy Days with us. Francesca came to Amman early to visit the schools and then her, Amanda, and I spent a day in Jerusalem before heading to Tel Aviv. 

While in Jerusalem the three of us were on a whirl wind tour of the city. We went to the City of David, walked through Hezekiah's Tunnel, saw the Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Church of All Nations, and the Garden Tomb. Not to mention a delicious dinner from a street vendor and shopping in the Old City. 

The Holy Days and Night to Be with the Hoyer's were very enjoyable, and we had a wonderful start to the Holy Days. While in Tel Aviv, they took us to the beach, we toured Old Jaffa with the Register's, and went to Caesarea. 

Following the first DUB, The H-Team and Register's headed to Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee and stopped at Megiddo along the way. We had lunch from a street vendor in Tiberias, then drove up to Capernaum to see the city ruins. After seeing Caperuaum we headed to our "fairy tale" bed in breakfast in Arbel, close to Tiberias, and had the most phenomenal dinner there. The next day we found a super market and had a picnic brunch at a park before leaving Tiberias. That day we went to Bellvior; Yardenit, a location on the Jordan River where many Christians are baptized; and Bet She'an. Then the H-Team and Francesca headed back to Amman from the North boarder crossing and the Register's went back to Tel Aviv to catch their flight home. Being able to spend the Holy Days in an area so rich with history was very exciting and meaningful. 


Until Next Time ~ Stella