Jerash, Irbid & the Jordan Valley - Jordan - page 234

Jordan into the Promised Land). Upstairs are some examples of local traditional dress, dis-
plays on traditional farming activities and mosaic fragments from churches around Salt.

CRAFT WORKSHOP

Salt Handicraft Training Centre
( 3550279; Nageb al-Daboor district; 8am-3pm Sun-Thu) Visitors can watch weav-
ing, pottery, mosaics and other handicrafts being made at this women's cooperative, 3km
out of town. The centre specialises in both training and production and has a showroom
for displaying the finished products. A taxi here costs JD1 to JD2 from the centre; ask for
the Balkhar Islamic School (Bejanib Maddaris al-Balkhar al-Islamiy). The turn-off is at a
set of traffic lights by a bridge, 2km from Salt along the road to Amman.

Wadi ash-Shu'aib
If you have a car it's worth exploring Wadi ash-Shu'aib, a refreshing valley named after
the prophet Jethro ('Shu'aib' in Arabic). There are some hiking opportunities here and in-
teresting caves. It's 2.5km southeast of Salt.

HIKING

DISCOVERING SALT ON FOOT

Salt is one town that really rewards a bit of on-foot exploration as much of the old quarter can only be accessed by
stairways and the best of the souq area is clustered into pedestrian-only alleyways. The following 3km route, which
takes about 90 minutes to complete, leads you on a circular tour of Salt's backstreets, taking in its bazaars and old
Ottoman architecture.

From Salt bus station walk up Dayr St, past the impressive doorway of Beit Mismar Offline map Google map
and the lovely balcony columns of Beit Muasher Offline map Google map , both grand old Ottoman residences.
Continue along Dayr St as it passes the curved walls of Salt's Orthodox church to the recently restored Beit Abu
Jaber Offline map Google map , which houses a small local-history museum. Head across the plaza and take the
stairs up to the right of the mosque, curving round to the entry of the former English Hospital Offline map
Google map (look for the letters 'EH' on the green gate). From here you can wind your way uphill for fine views
over the town and descend along a neighbouring staircase.
Alternatively, return to the plaza and head down Hammam St , Salt's most atmospheric backstreet, past the ornate
Ottoman mosque Offline map Google map to the junction with Maydan St. Across the street is the colonnaded
entry of Muhammed al-Bashir's House (built between 1890 and 1910), now a traditional coffeehouse (with a tree
in front). Next door is Beit al-Sulibi (built between 1920 and 1930).
Break for lunch at the Al-Salam Restaurant and end your tour at the archaeological museum .