Sometimes, it’s about the destination Because the journey is such a headache; You just want an end to the frustration, For, in life, you are in need of a break. You can’t enjoy leaving at witching hour On a plane limited with open space. They will take away all of your power, So your wallet can save a little face. Even when your plane eventually lands, It does not mean you’ve finally arrived. It just checks off one of many errands, And you still wonder if you will survive. It is not until the following day Where we can go out and enjoy the play.
No one will visit us in the country As they have to drive up a windy road Made of dirt, guarded by a horde of trees, Not offering much room for a wide load. We can nestle in our tiny chateau, Listening to the low of the neighbor’s cows. The wild grasses are allowed to grow; As wind blows, they join in uniform bows. The winter snows will eventually come, Locking us in the valley until Spring. The weather will continually drum As we enjoy the freedom that it brings. I’ll revel in the mountain solitude, Not believing my escape to be rude.
On the hill, we built the fortification To discourage the invading forces From thinking they can take this great nation. They may bring their catapults and horses To show off their might at our castle walls, But we are ready for their advances. They expect our sovereignty to fall Because of their military dance, But we will not be intimidated By their shiny medals and puffy hats. We will not be so easily bated For they are nothing more than spoiled brats. There is a reason we built it so high, Just so out heritage will never die.
Uneven cobblestones make up the lane As I try to find some better footing, But the were leaves won’t allow any gain. The path is gathering them by looting The fall tress of their greatest finery. They can no longer offer protection Against the strong wind that blows so chilly From its mountainous fortification. I dig my hands deeper in my pockets As I peek out from underneath my hood. I start to remember things life forgets Like how moments like this used to be good. Nostalgia returns in the autumn As each step sings with the crunches that come.
The fog puts its dirty paws on the hills, So it can creep to the valley below. The vibe of summertime is what it kills As it weaves through the forest really slow. It brings with it, its chilly friend, the mist, To cover the ground with a film of dew, Taking the season in its mighty fist To a routine that we forgot we knew. It just means an extra layer today Before I venture outside of my door. I know that this monster is here to stay Until it returns to the land of yore. I guess I should enjoy these autumn days When the clouds descend upon us to graze.
It takes the coaxing of one bird in flight To convince all the others to follow. They could turn left, but they will all go right Because their conviction is so hollow That they can only do what they are told. So they will swoop around an empty field, A congregation worthy to behold, And never allowing themselves to yield. They will circle around the dying crops, Thinking that what they see is still alive. Life’s been taken away to distant shops Which does not help to explain the flock’s drive. Around and around they will always go, No substance to their revolving air show.
Sometimes we do what we do not want to, Thinking we just have to endure the day, Hopefully knowing we can make it through, And return back to our regular play. But something strange happens along the way That the moment we thought would be painful Did not turn the day overcast and gray, And it became an event kind of cool. I should abandon preconceived notions Because it’s more than often they are wrong; Instead, I should enjoy the emotions That come when I decide to go along. I should stop looking for the worst in life, And I will leave behind all of the strife.
The clouds rush their way across the night sky, Trying to obscure the light of the moon, But the light wisps are too eager to fly To retain the celestial god’s boon. He watches over the town on the hill With its collection of twinkling lights, Recognizing that people live there still Who enjoy the sky’s smiling man’s delights. I sit across the valley on my ridge In a chair on the deck of my cabin With the evening as our only bridge Connecting the empty space in-between. Does the eternal round face even care That we know that he is up in the air?
With all of the movies and television shows coming out to Jordan to film, I can see how people would think that the country is nothing more than a vast dessert landscape. It surprises people when they find out that there is a little bit of diversity to the country, and one of the places that holds this feeling is just an hour drive north of Amman, a tiny resort called Mountain Breeze.
The resort feels more like something that could be found in the mountains of Colorado or Oregon rather than the dry desert landscape of Jordan. There are ten cabins that are comfortably situated on the hillside overlooking the valley below. They each have a big patio, comfortable beds, and nice bathroom. Most of the time, it only takes opening the windows of the cabin, and turning on the ceiling fan to keep them cool, but for on those hot summer days, each unit comes with air conditioning. They are also far enough away from each other to isolate the noise that can be created from other visitors to the resort.
Despite the restaurant, a poolside bar, and a full restaurant on the grounds of the resort, there are many other activities to while away any vacation day. There is a large playground for kids with many swings and things to climb on. They have a paintball arena, and a place to show your ability at archery. You could always choose to relax next to the pool, or dip into the water if things get a little too warm. Mountain Breeze even boasts having a conference room that could easily be converted into a ballroom for your business or marriage needs. Considering that there are only ten cabins on the grounds, none of these places feel very busy, even though for 30JD people can come up from Amman and use the facilities during the day.
If you feel a little adventurous, you can take the quick stroll down to the 500 year old tree where they built a treehouse. The hike itself is not long, taking about only ten to fifteen minutes to get down to the tree. The walk is all downhill, so it does take a little longer to get back, but the end of the voyage is the pool, so a dip in the cool water can always be used as an incentive. The treehouse itself is a nice place for a reprieve. When we went, we were down there by ourselves, and there were plenty of places where we could have picnicked or just sat under the tree to read a book.
Mountain Breeze plays up the American feel of being out in the mountains by adding things like a animal petting park that includes chickens, roosters, and ponies. They even have fire pits out in front of each of the cabins where they will light a fire for you and supply you with a bag of marshmallows. I was a little disappointed that they did not also include graham crackers and chocolate so I could enjoy the whole s’mores experience, but it was still fun to roast marshmallows around a campfire.
The place also boasts a bunch of cats that roam all over the grounds as well. They are wild cats, but like all cats in Jordan, they are also friendly. Of course, you will have to keep a close eye on your food because they will take any opportunity to sneak a bite if you happen to look away, but they also supply great moments while staying at the resort. One night while sitting in the bar, a mother cat kept bringing her baby kittens over to us to show them off. We thought she might be trying to pass them off to us, but when we came over to pet them, she got defensive. It made for a very entertaining evening.
Mountain Breeze is one of those hidden gems that I am surprised took me so long to find while living out here. It is the perfect getaway if you are living in the country because it is dramatically different enough from any other place in the country that it makes you feel like you are no longer in the country. It is also a great place to visit if you are traveling around the country. It is placed nicely in-between a lot of the more exciting places in Jordan that it would make the perfect home base if you found yourself in the region. I loved my time at Mountain Breeze and I hope to make it back out there again before I leave the country.
It feels as if summer has just begun, And I am already hearing whispers Of shorter days and a cold fading sun When the air nibbles a little crisper. I do not wish to stay outside as long, At least not without a fluffy sweater, For the north wind blows a little too strong, And next to a wood stove would feel better. There’s something about the change in the air That makes me feel a wee bit nostalgic For a time when I did not have a care, And joy was based upon youthful logic. I do not know which days I long for more Because both are a shutting of a door.
John Collings 