Shopping in Amman and Madaba

The temperature—especially at night—is much cooler up here in Amman compared to Aqaba in the south. So, you really have to snuggle up to keep warm and pull the blanket snugly around your nose to avoid freezing at night. We were served a little tray of breakfast—various cheeses, cold cuts, apricot jam, and a small piece of cake. Of course, there were also cucumber, tomato, and olives, which are pretty much standard sides for everything here :o) Traffic was supposed to be minimal today due to a Muslim holiday, but we didn’t really notice that. There’s a fierce competition for road space. Drivers turn and pull out without checking first. It’s all about who can honk the loudest. We’ve learned that trick—so with the horn blaring, we just went for it :o) Our first stop was downtown, where it was said to be good for shopping. We were looking for a souq, which is what we call a market. But they don’t really have that here. It’s more about shops and stalls lining the streets. Many tourists skip Amman altogether and head straight from the airport to Madaba or the Dead Sea. I can totally understand why. The city is big and noisy without many major attractions. So it’s better to spend your time in other places—Jordan has so much to offer! :o) With our wits about us and no traffic accidents, we left the capital heading towards Madaba, which is further south along the Kings Highway. Madaba’s history goes back over 3,500 years. The city is mentioned in several biblical texts. It was here that David’s forces defeated the Ammonites and Arameans. Today, Madaba is best known for its Byzantine mosaics. Plus, the city is charming and easy to navigate—a lovely stop in Jordan after the hectic pace of Amman. Madaba is also great for shopping. The area around the Madaba Inn Hotel has plenty of shops selling crafts... leather goods, woven carpets, hookahs, ceramics, and mosaic art. We bought some products from the Dead Sea—salt for cooking, bath salts, and mud for hair, body, and face. It all cost us 15 dinars in total. In the same area around the hotel, there are some good, affordable restaurants. We’re extra careful about hygiene because of the pregnancy. These restaurants seem to have it under control :o) At Haret Jdoudna, you can dine in a cozy courtyard. It’s incredibly popular. Ayola Coffee Shop & Bar is super charming, with walls made of field stones and brick. Locals come here to smoke hookah, but the spaces are large, so it doesn’t feel cramped or smoky if you want to eat there. The food is good and cheap—two Jordan-style sandwiches with two sodas cost only 8 dinars.