Today it was decided we’d go to Ajloun castle. It is to the north of Amman not far from Jerash, the Roman city, about an hour away. I’d wanted to visit it because rather than it being a Crusader castle, it was built by the nephew of Saladin in 1184AD to defend the area from the Crusaders, one of the few built in response to the invasion. I wanted to see how it compared in style and also it was a bit of a curiosity as in 1260AD it was sacked by the Mongols.
However, it was not to be.
On the way my daughters colluded together and decided, “We’re not going to see another castle, are we? It’s boring. Can’t we just go for a walk instead?”
I managed to negotiate a fair exchange, showing them my sad and disappointed face, and managed to wrangle out of them a kiss each if I diverted elsewhere. They felt really guilty and even offered me their bag of crisps – but, I hasten to add, their bag of jelly babies was out of bounds and not negotiable.
I suffered in silence but directed the car to a nearby nature reserve – called Dibeen Forest.
It’s roughly located here –
However, it was not to be.
On the way my daughters colluded together and decided, “We’re not going to see another castle, are we? It’s boring. Can’t we just go for a walk instead?”
I managed to negotiate a fair exchange, showing them my sad and disappointed face, and managed to wrangle out of them a kiss each if I diverted elsewhere. They felt really guilty and even offered me their bag of crisps – but, I hasten to add, their bag of jelly babies was out of bounds and not negotiable.
I suffered in silence but directed the car to a nearby nature reserve – called Dibeen Forest.
It’s roughly located here –
After paying our entrance fee (1JD = 1 Euro per adult, kids up to twelve free) we had a drive in, parked up and went for a walk. A pleasant 23 degrees C and no wind made for a good walking day.
A little background and info for you –
Dibeen was set up in 2004 and covers an area of 8.5 square kilometres. It contains one of the few remaining areas of pine and oak forest in the whole of the Middle East and is situated on a number of hills. Surrounding countryside is actually mainly olive trees.
There are Alleppo Pines and Palestine Oak trees in abundance in the mid altitudes, pine mainly lower down and oak in the higher reaches, a mix in the middle.
Also are orchids, pistachio and a lovely tree that I’ve not seen before (that I noticed anyway) called a Greek Strawberry Tree. You’ll spot them in the photos easily enough.
http://images.kew.org/arbutus_andrachne/print/655733.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbutus_andrachne
A little background and info for you –
Dibeen was set up in 2004 and covers an area of 8.5 square kilometres. It contains one of the few remaining areas of pine and oak forest in the whole of the Middle East and is situated on a number of hills. Surrounding countryside is actually mainly olive trees.
There are Alleppo Pines and Palestine Oak trees in abundance in the mid altitudes, pine mainly lower down and oak in the higher reaches, a mix in the middle.
Also are orchids, pistachio and a lovely tree that I’ve not seen before (that I noticed anyway) called a Greek Strawberry Tree. You’ll spot them in the photos easily enough.
http://images.kew.org/arbutus_andrachne/print/655733.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbutus_andrachne
We had a walk of two or three kilometres through the woods, gaining and losing altitude as we went. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves as a catalogue of things on the way –
One of the reasons the nearby castle of Ajloun was built where it was, was not only to protect (read - intimidate) the trade routes, it was built to protect the use of the iron mines in the vicinity. I never gave this much thought until I was walking through the forest and saw what initially looked like a cave entrance.
As I went towards it I realised it was man made. Not having my torch with me (it was still in the car as I was banned from going to the castle this time, sob....) I couldn’t explore further. But as compensation for not doing what I wanted to do I felt a little more at home in the mining environment.
There were a number of entrances, most barred by a gate, but I managed to take a few pictures through them.
Whether they are/were iron mines, I’ve no idea. But I know there are some in this area.
As I went towards it I realised it was man made. Not having my torch with me (it was still in the car as I was banned from going to the castle this time, sob....) I couldn’t explore further. But as compensation for not doing what I wanted to do I felt a little more at home in the mining environment.
There were a number of entrances, most barred by a gate, but I managed to take a few pictures through them.
Whether they are/were iron mines, I’ve no idea. But I know there are some in this area.
And that was about it.
A gentle walk back to the car, a Snickers each and a burger at Fuddruckers restaurant back in Amman virtually ended the day.
A gentle walk back to the car, a Snickers each and a burger at Fuddruckers restaurant back in Amman virtually ended the day.