Amman, Jordan

Whenever I arrive in a new city, I have to set my computer's clock by clicking my location on a map.  Usually, I know approximately where I am.  Today, not so much.  First, I clicked on somewhere in Russia. Then, I clicked on a random city in Turkey.  "Wow, this is embarrassing," I thought to myself.  I focused for a minute and then remembered that I am near the Sinai peninsula.  Finally, I found Amman.  That's when I realized: I know absolutely nothing about Jordan!

I arrived at the new airport (which, by the way, is a thousand times nicer than the old one I had to connect in last year on my way to Saudi Arabia).  First stop: currency exchange (they gave me a terrible rate).  Second stop: visa desk.  The two people in front of me tried paying with credit card and neither of their cards worked. I think the currency exchange people have some sort of deal worked out with the visa people.  

On the way to the hotel, I noticed a whole lot of nothing.  Tents, animals, dirt, and trees.  Very slanted trees.  It was like they were all bowing towards mecca.  The driver told me the slant is because of all the strong winds.  Wow... Chicago is windy but at least the trees still stand up straight!  Anyhow, enough about the slanted trees. 

Once we approached the downtown area, my attention shifted to all the hills.  I'm talking like San Francisco hills.  The infrastructure actually seemed pretty advanced, too, with lots of underground highway passes to handle the traffic.  

Arrival at the hotel was a little intimidating because they don't allow any cars near the front door and everyone is forced to walk through a pre-screening building that rivals airport security.  Talking to the front desk agent, I learned that the enhanced security is the result of a bombing that happened at the hotel in 2005, which killed 9 people.  Yikes!  It's always cool to be staying at a hotel that is frequented by foreign diplomats, but I suppose that also brings an element of risk.  

Safely in my room, I looked out my window at yet another beautiful view.  Now that I finally can identify my location on a map, it's time to do some research to determine what Jordan has to offer.  Here's to my next two weeks of discovery...    

View from my hotel room in Amman