16 PLACES FOR 16 WEEKS IN JORDAN

Week 2: The Citadel

The citadel, or 'jabal al-qal'a' is a collection of ancient ruins in the heart of Amman, near downtown. It has ruins from Romans, Byzantines, and Umayyads and more.

Week 3: Wadi Mujib

Early in the semester, we made the trek to Wadi Mujib to do a fantastic seasonal hike which ends with an amazing view of a waterfall. The canyon hike includes swimming, climbing, and walking which was a blast.

Week 4: Petra

One of the wonders of the ancient world, the city of Petra is a stunning can't miss destination in Jordan. On our trip, we hiked to the treasury and the monastery. By the end of the day I had logged almost 10 miles!

Week 5: Wadi Rum

Like Petra, Wadi Rum is another stunning site in Jordan. On our trip to Wadi Rum, we had the amazing opportunity to see a concert from a Jordanian band, have an astrology lesson from our Bedouin guide, and, enjoy the serenity of the scenery.

Week 6: Almond Coffee House

Another staple of Amman are its great cafes and coffee shops. One of my favorites was Almond Coffee located in the al-Rabieh neighborhood because it was close both to my internship office and my home in Shmaisani.

Week 7: Jerash

This set of ruins in the North of Amman shows what is left of a Roman city that has been remarkably well preserved.

Week 8: Maestro

Maestro became our favorite go-to spot to go on Thursday nights for happy hour and great food. The outdoor patio is beautiful and a perfect place to relax with friends after a week of classes.

Week 9: The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is one of the most fascinating and beautiful places I have ever been. Swimming (or, more aptly, floating) in the salty water is an amazing feeling, and my skin was SO soft afterwards.

Week 10: Abdali Boulevard

If you want some Western-style shopping and dining when you're in Amman, Abdali Boulevard is the place to go. Though it runs on the pricier side, there are some great restaurants and, if you happen to be in Amman around Christmas, the light displays here are unmatched.

Week 11: As-Salt

Not far from Amman is the as-Salt region, where we visited for an afternoon to pick olives and have a traditional meal.

Week 12: Carakale Brewery

One of my favorite afternoon outings with a few classmates was a trip just outside of the city to visit this Jordanian brewery. Among our favorite beers were the Red Sea-rious, which was brewed with orange and pomagranate, and the Dead Sea-rious, flavored with grapefruit and salt from the Dead Sea.

Week 13: National Gallery of Fine Art

If you're a fan of art and looking for somewhere to see a great collection from artists from throughout the Arab world, check out the National Gallery! As a bonus, the gallery also has a cafe on the roof with some stellar views of the city.

Week 14: Jabal Hussein Catholic Church

After several weeks without any formal spiritual nourishment, a classmate and I decided to try the service at a Catholic Church in the neighborhood of Jabal al-Hussein. Though I'm not Catholic (my classmate is) and the service was all in Arabic, we became very fond of attending mass every Sunday evening after classes.

Week 15: Rainbow Street

While this photogenic part of Amman was definitely designed for tourists, this is a great place to check out souvenirs, art, and bookshops near the center of the city.

Week 16: The Baptism Site

Finally, on our last excursion we visited the Baptism site. Not only was it unbelievable to be in such a momentous place, it was also very interesting to see the border between Jordan and the occupied West Bank so close. This spot is definitely one I will continue to reflect on for a long time.