Amman

1st January 2019

              Arrived at Aqaba airport to drop off Rosa who was flying home to Italy by Ryanscare, looking for some coffee shop to get a coffee what proved as impossible task since every shop is behind security check. There was even arrival hall locked as no more flights were arriving today, what is shocking but hey, coffee is not there probably either 😊 so we will get coffee some other time at some other place. We had really short civilized good bay as the physical contact between non married man and woman is no no in Muslim country so Rosa went to terminal I went with taxi to down town to JETT bus station to take bus to Amman. Right on time as I was there at 10:30 and bus is leaving at 11:00 and for only 8.5 JOD / €10.50 so I was having just enough time to respond to all messages wishing Happy New Year on What’s Up and Viber on the Movenpick hotel Wi-Fi 😊

              Bus is on the way and one hour ish into journey, the bus broke down and stopped on the side of the highway, where we sat down at barriers or walking around as we were waiting for replacement bus to arrive, which did in maybe hour or so and we were off again. Thanks to this prolonged trip I was able to write previous article and sort few photos. Got to Amman in dark at 17:00 and I was so glad that I did arrived one day earlier as if this had happen on the departure day I would be possibly screwed with such delay. Since the bus station for JETT is somewhere else that the bus station for airport I need to walk there to see if I could get accommodation close enough to save time before departure. AS I started walking towards the Tabarbour bus station I looked around and realized that there are not many hotels around me but in good faith and spirit I just kept going to Tabarbour Bus Station. It was about one and half hour to get there walking through some residential ghost areas as no one was on the street, which is really strange considering that this is capital town. But lots of cars as it seems that everyone here is either at home or in the car. Got to the station where behold is free Wi-Fi without any registration at all ! Spent some time there to investigate accommodation in near area, which I realized is zero and need to walk another two kilometers to nearest hotel. Also since the bus did not stop I had have not eaten since breakfast in Wadi Rum and getting irritated and angry as every man do when hungry so walking to nearest hostel proved to only increase my irritation as the place on the map marked as hostel was just place full of debris. Well got to walk around the main dual carriageway as map showed me that there are few hotels grouped together and even if not everyone will be open at least I have better chance to find one open or better said existing 😊 Another hotel, what should be close to road in park was closed  and even the road from the park were blocked by railings and police cars so not sure what that was about but I was pretty pissed off. Finally I saw hotel in distance and when came close it was a 5 star Grand Royal palace and opposite was Marriott and another was Corp Hotel all in the price range what usually is not in my limit but with hunger and tiredness I even considered them. However brain or what ever is there in that dark empty space between my ears directed me 5 min further where opposite Special Hospital was California Hotel for 35 JOD / € 42 per night and I was in no mood to walk anywhere else.  Room was spacious as it was more apartment than a room with great and huge bed “I do love huge beds” and kitchen, bathroom etc, and went to get some water and juice as I was seriously dehydrated from the Wadi Rum. Not going to details but two liters of juice and 1.5 liter of water make only one small pee. One great shower later and turning on heating, yes heating as it was cold in the room, later I found out that window was not fully closed too. I did catch up on email and what’s up in this great huge bed  before my eyes shut down.

2nd January

What a great sleep I had ! I just had to get up in the night as I was roasting since I forgot to turn off heating but I did appreciate the heat before going to sleep, it was just later in the night that I need a bit less heat to get sleep. Woke up 7:30 but I was so tired that I just did some photo uploading and then went to sleep again at 10:00 and woke up around 11:30 feeling better than previously in the morning but still could do with day in bed 😊 Since I had more less fasting day before and my stomach was in constant grumbling mode I get up, got shower and went down to reception to collect my passport, which I nearly panicked, when I could not find it in the room but then my brain woke up and remember that I had left it at reception because I had not paid yet. Paid for the room and went to get more water and juice as my lips are dry as the sand at dessert and cracked as eggshell of hard boiled egg before eating. Got the lip balm too and then right front of the hospital was this guy selling bread with cheese, eggs, tomato salsa, chili, coriander for 1.5 JOD and since I had not have breakfast yet I went for it with help from local guy who was buying it before me and helped me translate to seller what I want. Thank you for that stranger and hopefully the hospital visit was in good sense. The sandwich was so nice and tasteful, that now I regret that I had not buy more of them, maybe it is just fact that I’m getting hungry now 😊 Collected my luggage and start walking towards the bus station at 13:00 at the side of this dual carriage way just in the opposite way as last night. Got to the Tabarbour Bus Station around 13:45 in time for 14:00 bus for 3.5 JOD / €4 after attempts of local sales man to get me a taxi or different bus. I wanted to go visit Dead Sea but since I woke up late and carried my “little” suitcase around was not really what I wanted as well as the forecast for Dead Sea was 17 degrees Celsia so I decided to skip this trip or maybe hire car from Airport and drive there. The bus ride took about 1 hour 20 minutes and since here is a decent Wi-Fi for free I will stay put and complete this article and upload some photos on the website instead of hiring car, what will help me with my traveling budget for the future 😊 Jeysus I just went from terminal at first floor to ground for toilet and I had to get outside so my sweet lord was a cold is there.. either I’m becoming a sissy or I got used to warm weather or I am just tired but I was freezing out there. Well back in and having something to eat with hot tea “sandwich, ham and cheese croissant and tea” for 8 JOD. Time flies as it is already 18:00 and I have not even started the photos OMG :-o Stop typing and get eating so you can finish uploading the photos.