Category: Middle East
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Day 7 in Jordan (part 1): Grocery Store Day!
My nerdy heart is happy for grocery store day! My introduction to Jordanian grocery stores was when we visited a Carrefour and today I will visit Hanny Supermarket, Centro, and Cozmo. Hanny Supermarkets are smaller neighborhood groceries which cover all the basic needs. The meat counter is smaller but they have a reasonable selection of…
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Day 6 in Jordan: Madaba & Mt. Nebo
The first stop on today’s adventure is Madaba! World renowned for incredibly beautiful and detailed mosaics, Madaba deserves at least a half day to explore. The region around Madaba is believed to have been inhabited for around 4500 years and is said to be one of the towns divided amongst the 12 tribes of Israel…
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Day 5 in Jordan: Amman (part 2)
We had a walk back to the car after lunch so we stopped in at Duke’s Diwan on Al Malek Faisal Street. The Duke’s Diwan is the oldest building in downtown Amman open to visitors. Built in 1924, this historic townhouse has served as a post office, a ministry of finance, and a hotel. A…
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Day 5 in Jordan: Amman (part 1)
Today we explore the city of Amman! Amman has all the trappings of a modern city including residential areas, cafes, restaurants, bars, malls, coffeehouses, mosques, and souqs which are all intertwined into Jordanian life. The city is a culmination of cream- and beige-colored concrete buildings built into the hillsides. Some buildings appear newer and brighter…
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Day 4 in Jordan: UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Crusader Castle
Umm Ar Rasas is a completely unassuming area and, had it not been for my friend telling me it was worth a visit, I would have passed without knowing that I was missing a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally a Roman garrison town built to house the Roman Legion and defend Rome’s most remote borders,…
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Day 3 in Jordan: the lowest place on earth … the Dead Sea!
Today is my friend’s birthday and what better way to celebrate his birthday, and my vacation, than to go to the Dead Sea?! The Dead Sea was a non-negotiable for me on this trip and I am so glad we went! Our first stop of the day was the Octagon Panorama Dead Sea Complex which…
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Day 2 continued in … a grocery store?
I experienced my first shopping mall in the Middle East, City Mall in Amman. Entering the mall means passing through metal detectors and the gentlemen should expect an additional check with the metal detector wand. The shopping mall itself is reminiscent of the standard American shopping mall and there were a mix of stores/brands I…
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Jordan Day 2 – Jerash and Ajloun Castle
This morning we left the city and drove north. We stopped to fuel up the car and I learned that all gas stations are full service here. You tell the attendant what type of gas you want (90) and how much (full). They then fill the car up for you and you pay without ever…
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Day 1 and an Arabic cooking class in Amman, JO
I woke up about 8am and slowly started to get ready for the day. We (my friends and I) decided to go for breakfast at Planet Donut which was a short walk from the apartment. I had a plain glazed donut which was good. It was similar to Krispy Crème donuts though slightly heavier in…
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London, UK; International Airspace; Amman, JO
I attempted to sleep in slightly today as my itinerary was fairly light. St. Ermin’s offers a breakfast buffet in the Caxton Grille and I made use of this convenient option. Though not included in my room price, since I booked with points I had a basic room, it was satisfactory. The scrambled eggs, hashbrowns,…
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