AMMAN, August 8, 2008 - Our taxicab was scaling a climb so precipitous that most taxi drivers in the Jordanian capital refuse to go up it.

But our cab driver, Omar, pressed the accelerator to the floor and urged his yellow taxi on. We crawled up the steep incline,...

Amman, August 5, 2008 -- The journey to Jordan is long and arduous enough when you set out from the United States: traveling robs you of an entire day, and you forgo the creature comforts of life during 12 hours spent on a plane.

But it would be...