Tourist at Madaba, an archaeologist's paradise

Last weekend I played tourist in the mosaic-filled city of Madaba, an archaeologist's paradise. Underneath almost every house lies a Byzantine mosaic. Many of these mosaics have been excavated but it is estimated that many more lie waiting to be discovered. The finest mosaic of the lot is still in its original place on the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. This is said to be the first map ever and it is of the entire region from Jordan and Palestine in the north, to Egypt in the south. Many towns and cities are depicted in picture form, complete with walls and pitched re-roofed houses, while in the Nile huge fish swim.

Madaba's biblical town history goes back 3,000 BC. Shame about the reminders of our century- the hectic traffic and bus loads of tourists. Most memorable part of the day for a gal who had little sense of history? Why lunch of course. I'll have to find something more active to do because after lunch I had to drag myself around in the heat - and I am longing for a bit of countryside.