Gazing at the Golan

Rattled around ACOR for a couple days, one of which included some rug shopping, before doing a field trip – via public transportation – to a site in the north, near the Golan Heights and the Syrian border. Had a relatively smooth trip (taxi to bus station in Amman, serveece taxi to Irbid, minibus to north bus station in Irbid, minibus to Um Qais) to Um Qais and thoroughly enjoyed the sight. It’s a little creepy knowing that the government kicked out the last folks living there in the 80s so as to turn the site into a park, but the Ottoman houses with reused stones from the older parts of the site are spectacular. The views of the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights are stunning. Our favorite bit was a Byzantine Church with a crypt under the apse (so cool). Made for some great exploring. We had lunch at the Resthouse (complete with a glass of wine – priceless), enjoyed the views, and tried to figure out where the borders are. Traveled back to Amman without incident (random van [I’m not kidding] from Um Qais to Irbid, minibus to Irbid south station, bus to Amman, taxi to ACOR), and arrived at around the same time at folks returning from the States. Robert, and ACOR fellow whose birthday is May 5, returned with his wife Erin. Robert had arranged with Noah before he left to have some door decorations for Erin. Noah decided that a full body, life-size, trace of him (Noah) would be perfect.