Airline passenger news and views

Located at the centre of the Levant and ruled by several civilizations including the Pharaons, the Byzantines, the Arabs and the Ottomans, Jordan has been influenced by numerous cultural traditions; resulting in an idiosyncratic heritage.

For the European tourist, Jordan symbolizes exoticism in the strongest sense. As soon as you step outside the airport, hot winds come blowing at your face from the desert welcoming you to what will be a unique Oriental experience, underlined by three major factors that make Jordan like no other Arab country.

Desert castles are the first of Jordan's distinctive traits. Hidden across the Jordanian desert, these castles were erected thirteen centuries ago by and for Arab caliphs to retreat from cities in the deep confines and silence of the desert. Qasr al Azraq - or the Blue Castle, is one of the many magnificent castles but its location near Wadi al-Azraq - the Blue Oasis - gives it a real oriental fairy-tale character. Getting a glimpse of the ancient nomadic lifestyle is also possible by dining and camping with Bedouins in the desert.

At the borders of Arabian deserts, Jordan's seas are the second of its unique features. On the one hand, the Red Sea - named as such because of the abundance of its massive red corals - is a gem of sea life enclosing a myriad of fish and reefs. On the other hand and its total opposite; the Dead Sea - named as such because its extremely high salinity kills all forms of life. Swimming or diving in it is impossible; floating is the sole option.

Last but not least; Petra. An ancient city of the Nabataen civilization and a current UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petra boasts many archeological remnants but its glamour lies in the majestic temple concealed behind its deserted mountains, which only a narrow stoned staircase leads to after a two-hour journey. The giganticness of this unbelievable structure, coupled with the exactitude of its architecture will take your breath away and make you wonder about the brilliance of ancient civilizations.

Jordan thus encloses some of the world's jewels rendering it a real Ali Baba's cave, wrapped in an exquisite Oriental culture.