Can a culture be preserved and reconstructed through its costumes?

Jordan's capital, Amman, balances more modern elements that add a cosmopolitan flair to the natural beauty of this traditional kingdom.

Petra's entrance is waking up from its reverie, its rock-cut tombs, temples and rose red walls sleepy with shadows.

An optional part of the tour -- but one well worth seeing -- is a feast of sight and sound in the Hippodrome in which 45 Roman "legionnaires" in full combat gear show off their battle tactics.

I visited Jordan last month, my 10th trip in 15 years, and experienced not only the absence of tourists but also a wealth of new things to see and experience.

he Hermitage is great, their storage rooms even better and the glorious mansions of the Romanov period are opening for a glimpse of the past we have all read about.

After several attempts to catch a taxi back to the ship, one of the local shopkeepers voluntarily came out of his store and helped me flag down a taxi and give the driver directions.

To put it mildly, the ancient Jordanian city of Madaba has a bit of history: Moses may have first looked at The Promised Land from atop nearby Mount Nebo.

For me, mixing travel with running is a great training motivator. So as a way to kick-start my marathon training after a knee injury, I decided to come up with my list of dream race destinations.

With all of the political upheaval in the Middle East, it's not surprising that quite a few people questioned my decision to travel to Jordan this spring.

Are we all a little selfish in our outraged reaction to rip-off fees? It is easy to over-estimate the impact of travellers on local economies.