Olive trees

with an estimated eight million growing in Jordan, are an intricate part of their culture. Lovely dishes laced with fresh-pressed olive oil are ubiquitous, and I found myself looking forward to every meal, especially the mezze.Dramatic sandstone mountains and copper-toned sand was begging for exploration, to which I happily obliged.

Following in Lawrence of Arabia's footsteps with my face covered up like a Bedouin, I was off- first by camel, then in the bed of a 4x4. Nabataean inscriptions were on the mountains we passed as we explored the vast beautiful desert until the sun set and the cold desert night set in.