Jordan Day 3 - Jerash

Jerash is mere 50 KM north of Amman but it is one of the most well preserved Roman city.  From the Arch of Hadrian to the Forum, to the Hippodrome and to the Temples of Zeus and Artemis, we could almost feel the bustling city of the Decapolis.  It's quite surreal when you walk down the colonnaded street.  How did these ancient columns survive 2000 years?
We initially thought we had seen it all after touring many Roman ruins but it is not until we saw Jerash live, we realized that there is so much more to Roman ruins.  Weather was unpredictable so it was rainy and windy at time but mixed with some sunny sky.  No complaint other than the fact little Chamu decided to jump around in the water potholes and got himself completely soaked (and freezing) for the second half of the tour.

Joaquin dancing in the Roman theater

Happy to take picture with the pipe players

Ancient city and modern city of Jerash

The Forum

Chamu rules!

The theater is almost intact after 2000 years!

The Roman street is not designed for baby strollers

Birthday dinner at the Benihana; free cake from the hotel

Joaquin dancing at the Sushi bar; free baby sitting and entertainment for Mamu!

Jordan Day 2 - The Desert Castle Loop

We drove out to the northeast of Amman the second day in search of desert castles.  It took us a long while to fine the first one (Qasr al-Hallabat) since the signs on the road were a bit confusing and they tend to disappear at critical junctions.  But once we found the first one (which is under restoration work), we were able to find the second (Qasr al-Azraq) and the third one (Qusayr ‘Amra).  We stopped for lunch at Azraq (Azraq Oasis), which was a huge oasis more than 100 years ago and now the reserve is only less than 10% of its original size due to huge increases in population in Amman.  We were also invited into the tent by local Bedouins for tea after we visited Qusayr ‘Amra.

http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/tourism5.html

Local kids knocked on our car door and invited Joaquin to play soccer with them

Joaquin was excited to run into camel mamas and camel bebés

This is the castle located at the Azraq oasis where Lawrence of Arabia stayed

Little castle explorer

Happy to be up the steps with Dadu

This kid is fearless

Dadu trying to move the 1-tonn door

Indiana Chumus

Beautiful sunset at Qusayr ‘Amra

Jordan Day 1 - Amman

It's our first time in the Middle East.  We had picked Jordan since we happened to watch a very well created documentary last year on Jordan and we have always wanted to visit Petra (The Indiana Jones City).  However, it's not until we stepped on the soil of Jordan we realized how rich in culture Jordan is.
We had thought that Jordan may be difficult for a 7-month pregnant Mamu and a 20-month toddling Chamu but it turned out to be a very friendly place.  We rented a car and the sights were all very accesible by highways. The scenery changes so much from one place to another, it's hard to believe that it's the same country.  People are extremely friendly and they love Chamu.  People would simply come over and pick up Chamu or kiss Chamu or offer us something to drink or something to eat.
We decided to extend our one-week stay by two days because there were too many places to cover.  Chamu loved it too.  We highly recommend all of you find some time to make a trip to Jordan and you will not be disappointed!

One of the most well-preserved Roman theater we have seen and it's in Amman!

 We bought the baby back carrier in London since we didn't think the terrain in Jordan would be friendly enough for baby strollers

Testing out the carrier and Dadu's endurance before going to Petra; Joaquin loves to say "Sube" when Dadu climbs

The boy came over to give Joaquin a big hug

Picnic in the Citadel where you have an amazing view of the hilly city of Amman (we picked up the entire lunch for less than US$3)

Chamu enjoying fresh OJ in front of the Temple of Hercules at the Citadel

Resting and basking in warm sunlight

The beautiful 8-year old girl loved Chamu so much; she offered us popcorn and sunflower seeds

Chamu's groupies; when we were leaving the Citadel, Joaquin had this entourage following him

Sunset at the Citadel

Dinner at a Lebanese restaurant; we both missed rice so much!!!

London

We left the continent Europe in rain, luckily sunshine was waiting for us in London.  This is the first time that I was able to enjoy the city at my own pace.  I have been to London many times but every time was work related and thus didn't really have much time to my own.  This time around, the city felt very different to me.
We rented an apartment only couple of blocks from Harrods.  It's a spacious one bedroom apartment and Joaquin had a lot of room to roam around.  We visited the National Gallery, the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Science.  We hung out with Jenny and Costanza (Joaquin remembers her very well since they hung out in HK, Sicily and Taipei), ran into Melody and Maya (outside of Museum of Natural History! What a coincidence!) and hung out with Jair, who came to see us in London (Jaime's classmate from his Mandarin class in the Taiwan University).  Mamu also did the horrible glucose tolerance test and gratefully the result was good (even after all the dessert and afternoon tea...)!
After two months of Spain and Portugal, we were very happy to be back in a large, metropolitan city where shops are open throughout the day and grocery shopping is just around the corner.  The weather was also surprising mild.  The only thing is that Mamu is getting a little too big to walk for long distance so we will have to come back again to visit all these other sights (and shop when Mamu can fit into normal clothes again!)

Resting at the Trafalgar Square after eating at the nearby Chinatown (Mamu and Chamu really missed Chinese food!)

Harrod's was having a super sale but we never even stepped inside even though we are only a couple of blocks away

Chamu running around the Trafalgar Square

Sunset at the Trafalgar Square

Chamu deciding where to start with our afternoon tea at the National Gallery

Joaquin was excited to see Pocoyo (very interesting Spanish cartoon)

So happy to see a lion at the Museum of Natural History

Joaquin scared by a moving dinosaur

The art of imitation

Jenny's parents took us out for a very nice dim sum right next to the Hyde Park

Reading with Costanza

Cars, cars, and cars at the Museum of Science

No hands when riding bus!  Joaquin now likes to do all kinds of dangerous acts!

Hanging out with Lady Costanza before going to the airport

Joaquin misses Costanza so much even after we left London

Aboard Royal Jordanian to Amman!

Lisboa

After the Algarve, we spent two nights in Lisboa.  Jaime and I had been here five years ago and we liked it so much that we booked our flight to London from Lisboa.  Jaime's kindergarten friend, whom he hasn't seen for 30 years, flew in from Torino with his wife to join us in Lisboa.  Weather was mild (with some drizzling but manageable) and sunny at times so we had a nice stroll along the main plaza and also took the cable car up the hill for a quick tour.

Joaquin being surprised by his distorted image in the mirror

Riding the cable car

In front of the main plaza

Jaime and his friend, Fabrizio

In front of the restaurant Alta Buta (we ate here five years ago but this time around it was ok)

Joaquin imitating Fabrizio at the look out point