Saying goodbye to Petra, we turned north up the Desert Highway parallel to the Israelites’ route when they made their wilderness journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.  We stopped first at the magnificent Crusader castle of Karak, built on the location of the ancient Moabite capital, Kir Hareseth.  We continued to Madaba, known as the City of Mosaics dating to the Byzantine and Umayyad eras and home to the famous 6th century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land.  We had a brief stop at Mt. Nebo, burial site of Moses overlooking the Jordan Valley, before crossing back into Israel.

Lois getting a “carriage” ride to the monument from a fellow pilgrim.

Mt Nebo looking toward Jericho and Jerusalem, Dead Sea to the left

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” John 3:14-15

Madaba – a mosaic floor in St George Gk Orthodox church – the oldest extant map of 6th century Jerusalem and Middle East (from Emperor Justinian’s time)

Stew walking through the arches of Shawback

In a Byzantine Chapel, and checking out the escape tunnel

Bernie at Shawback Crusader Castle built 1115AD

Jordanian desert

Pictures from the remains of a crusader castle in Jordan. Castle name:Shoubak

The Rector was arrested by two local “Arabs”!! LOL😂. Good thing they were friendly