The tourist sites in Jordan are very quiet at the moment, as lots of tourists are staying away because of the political problems in the Middle East.

Petra is one of the great ancient sites of the world.  A city built by the Nabataeans around the 6th century BC and described as “a rose-red city half as old as time.”  It has featured in numerous movies, including Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade.

I also visited Jerash, one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities in the world.

Plus I visited Umm Qais, up near the border with Syria.  It is the place where the supposed miracle of the demon pigs happens in the bible.  Jesus encounters a man possessed by many demons.  If you’re a fan of science fiction or horror, you’ve probably come across the line – “My name is Legion: for we are many.”

Jesus cures the man by casting out the spirits into a herd of nearby pigs.

And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

Obviously the son of god didn’t particularly care for the animal rights movement.