10 Amazing Foreign Vacation Destinations You Haven’t Considered
8. Amman, Jordan
Amman is a modern Arab city, rather than one of the great cultural centres of the Middle East; it never rivalled Damascus or Cairo as a grand Islamic city of antiquity, since it was founded only in the 19th century by a group of Circassian refugees who were exiled from their native Caucasus by the invading Russian Army. For those arriving from Syria or Egypt it can, depending on your perspective, feel either refreshingly or disappointingly modern and Westernized.
Don’t come to Jordan’s capital with expectations of medieval souqs and bazaars, or wonderful mosques of Islam’s grand architectural heritage. Do come to Amman to catch a glimpse of a modern Arab city, embracing an international and culturally diverse vision of the future. Whether you’re in the urbane western suburbs, or the earthy, kinetic chaos of downtown, the welcome you’ll receive is sure to be warm.
Amman can be a good starting point for trips to the Dead Sea, to the famous rock city of Petra, and to the Red Sea resorts of Aqaba and Eilat. Jordanians are very friendly toward Westerners, and even have open border checkpoints with Israel, which makes day trips to the nearby Israeli destinations an easy task. Jordan is an island of stability in the otherwise chaotic region, and you shouldn’t worry about your safety while visiting this beautiful country.
