Amman

I gave myself a few days in Jordan recently, en route to a family catch-up visit to the UK. It was an excellent choice for a stopover: fascinating, comfortable and safe, and reeking of history and historical relics.

Showing me around the capital city Amman was taxi driver Mahmoud, with his trusty but battered old taxi and a somewhat excessive desire to please.

We visited the Roman Colosseum, the King Abdullah Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque), and the Citadel.

Amman was known as Philadelphia in Roman times.

The Blue Mosque is the only one in the city which welcomes tourists. It's got a particularly welcoming gift shop, after all. But it's a very beautiful space  too.

The Citadel is the fortified hill within the old town. It has a 1700m Bronze Age wall surrounding it, the Roman Temple of Hercules, and the Umayyad Palace. Plus excellent views of the city.