Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
At the current rate of progress I suspect that it would be some years before it becomes the
tourist facility he said was planned for the site.
Jordan has an indigenous Christian minority within the Arab and non-Arab segments of
Jordanian society, comprising about 6 per cent of the population. This compares with 30
per cent in 1950, with the decline due to migration, lower birth rates compared to Muslims
and the fact that the majority of people that have come to Jordan as refugees are Muslim.
Looking out from our high vantage point we could see a roof adorned with crosses and with
a little effort we traced its location further down the slope.
We were again potentially frustrated by a locked steel-gate, but then we had a bit of luck.
Somebody exited through the gate and didn't lock it behind them, so, we did what anybody
would do, and we pushed it open and stepped inside.
It was a school playground at the back and side of a large church, with a group of boys
playing soccer and a group of girls throwing and catching a basketball. Peeking around the
corner we spied a teacher who was supervising overall. She looked toward us and smiled.
The boys were yelling and ran up before resuming their game. The girls gathered around
chattering excitedly and then one of them spoke in English and told us she was being taught
English at home by her mother. Several of the girls had very English complexions with pale
skin and rosy cheeks. It was a delightful interlude, even though we couldn't gain access to
the church.
Getting back to the driver and another three way phone call, we set off for Wadi Ash-Shu
Aib, a long valley that progressively descended toward a distant plain, and any interest-
ing points in between. We knew there were a couple of Christian towns in the area but the
driver's lack of English slowed down our search.
The road descended for many kilometres down the Wadi, with the hills progressively rear-
ing up around us. At the low point there was a ribbon of foliage in the relatively shallow
gorge that now ran beside the road, but little else. We decided to turn around and retrace
our steps and follow a sign, which took us to a mosque that purported to hold the tomb of
Joshua. It was well appointed and for a small donation we were ushered in to stand sol-
emnly before the tomb.
According to the Bible, Joshua became the leader of the Israelite tribes after the death
of Moses and was one of the twelve spies of Israel sent by Moses to explore the land
of Canaan. Following the death of Moses, Joshua led the Israelite tribes in the conquest
