Jordan & Egypt Express

AMMAN — Jordan’s capital and largest city (pop. 972,000) is situated just a short drive from the Syrian and Israeli borders (about 45 mi/72 km northeast of Jerusalem.) The area has been constantly inhabited since 6000 BC, though only a few of its ancient buildings endured. This somewhat drab, although modern, city was not much more than a village until it became the seat of government in the 1920s — since then it has evolved dramatically. (Its population swelled with the arrival of succeeding waves of dislocated Palestinians, who today make up a bulk of the city’s residents.)

Sit in on a performance in the 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater (it holds 6,000) or the new Royal Cultural Center. Also visit the Basman Palace, the city’s Folklore Museum, Museum of Popular Traditions and the National Archaeological Museum. Tour the Forum and Citadel Hill to see the few remaining Roman ruins (including a temple of Hercules). The hill provides a vast picture of Amman and is a serene escape from Amman’s bustling atmosphere. The Jordan National Gallery displays modern Jordanian and Middle Eastern art and the university merits a visit. Don’t miss the huge King Abdullah Mosque, built in the late 1980s.

A short drive west of town in the Wadi Seer Valley are the ruins of Qasr al-Abid Castle and the Araq al-Amir Caves. An journey can be made to the nearby towns of Ajlun (see separate paragraph) and Salt (13 mi/21 km northwest of Amman — features enchanting 19th-century carved-stone architecture). Allow at least a day in Amman.

Cairo , the capital city of Egypt, has been the heart of Egypt for more than 1000 years and it demonstrates the dichotomy of all things Egyptian. Cairo is a timeless metropolis enriched with the unforgettable marks of a glorious past. It is in Cairo where the medieval world and the contemporary western world come together.The home of one of the seven wonders of the world – the Great Pyramids – not to mention the Sphinx of Giza and the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, Cairo is a treasure chest of discovery, amazement, warmth & enjoyment.Islamic Cairo is the old medieval quarter, and stepping into its neighbourhoods is like moving back six or seven centuries with its tiny alleyways & mud-brick houses. Some of Islamic Cairo’s highlights include the Ibn Tulun Mosque, dating from the 9th century and one of the largest mosques in the world; the Mausoleum of Imam ash-Shafi’i, the largest Islamic tomb in Egypt where one of Islam’s greatest imams was buried.The Citadel, which is an awesome medieval fortress that was the seat of Egyptian power for 700 years. The Citadel has three major mosques and several museums.Coptic Cairo was originally built as a Roman fortress town. It pre-dates the founding of Islamic Cairo by several hundred years and was home to one of the world’s first Christian communities. It is, however, a holy place for Jews and Muslims as well as the Coptic Christians who lived there. The one remaining part of the Fortress of Babylon is a tower which was built in 98 AD and originally overlooked an important port on the Nile. The Coptic Museum is at the foot of the tower and its exhibits cover Egypt’s Christian era between 300 and 1000 AD. This stunning collection includes religious and secular art, and includes stonework, manuscripts, woodwork, metalwork, paintings and pottery.For shopping, the Khan El Khalily bazaar is a must.