Amman

Trip Start Dec 16, 2005
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Trip End Jan 08, 2006


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Flag of Jordan  ,
Saturday, December 17, 2005

Never been to a proper Muslim city before ... an Amman certainly fills this category very well. My first realisation of this was when I first heard the haunting chants growing from the minarettes at every Mosque and echoing across the city. This is to call the holy to prayer at appointed times throughout the day. Until then I could have been anywhere.

Arrival at the airport was interesting, if not a bit intimidating. Lots of scary, hairy men wanting to do things for me ... some of which, I'm sure, was not necessarily for my own good ...

Finally made it to my hotel in the pissing rain and settled in for the evening with a guide book in prep for the next day.

Early in the morning I went to the Citadel .. Amman Citadel
Amman Citadel
 . the ancient city ruin on top of one of the Jebels (hills) of Amman. The thing that I find most striking is the age of the place... and not just the ancient ruins that occupy the hill top ... everything seems to be crumbling (at least in this area) ... as a result the streets are perilous, as you wander along infeasibly narrow steps of broken path with a big drop on one side and mad taxi drivers trying to play chicken with you on the other.

The city has lots of charm .. the people seem really friendly and genuine. I met a friend of Gary's ... Soos (Sawson) ... she is full of energy and made every effort to make me welcome in her home town. She is a good example of a modern Arabic woman with a strong sense of independence, well formed opinions and clear ambitions for her own career. Just goes to show ... don't believe everything you see on CNN!!

After that I attended the group meet for Era ... guide & driver are once again Saffers, seem very chilled out. The group is only 14 for now (Aussies, Brits, Hungarians and Kiwis). We will be 24 from Cairo. But for the first 6 days it is nice to have the extra space on Era. A luxury never experienced on WAMM!!

Later that evening Soos and I went to a Christmas party at the very well to do house of one of her friends. Very nice gaff ... nice mix of Arab nations (Lebanese, Iraq, Jordan) ... very welcoming ... then two girls arrive ... I hear the name Fidelma and guess what ... I am been introduced to two Irish girls from Limerick and Clare ... more airline crew ... this time flying for the royal family... It was an interesting evening!!

Women here ... what can I say ... very well turned out !!! (As are the men, Fidelma informs me ... and she should know she is married to one!!)
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