Big Airport, Big City
From Amman
After about 20 hours of travel time, we finally reached the hotel in Amman. The Frankfurt airport was much more straightforward to get through than it was the last time we passed through. The airplane parked at the terminal this time; last time we needed to take a bus from the tarmac to the terminal. Even though we were in transit, connecting passengers still had to go through pre-boarding security, so anyone with water or drinks had to abandon those.
A smooth, but very full flight to Jordan deposited us in another large, modern airport some distance from Amman. We purchased our visas and experienced a rathe rude passport control officer, ignoring us at his counter seemingly much more intent on chatting and joking with a colleague while other passengers at other counters breezed through. Let us hope he was having a bad day and did not treat all visitors to his country in the same manner. Eventually, we located a taxi for the 49 min drive to the hotel where we will meet the rest of the tour group tomorrow.
The hotel is not what we are used to; it is quite opulent with big well-appointed rooms and a few little niceties like a fruit basket and tray of macaron sweets. We are here for 3 nights to begin our itinerary and 1 more night before leaving the country. Travellers to Jordan should get used to the idea that items here seem to be priced in dinars just like they would be in dollars at home at home. So their set menu ‘American Breakfast’ is about 17 dinars. At home, in a good hotel, the same would be around 17 dollars, give or take. The kicker is that the dinar is valued at $1.85, so be prepared if you travel here.
Early views on the city is that Amman is a large, modern city. We drove here on a modern highway. Of course, we have not seen much yet and will add more as we tour the city. The view from our 11th floor room isn’t exotic at all, although a lone minaret can be seen rising from the bustling cityscape.
After about 20 hours of travel time, we finally reached the hotel in Amman. The Frankfurt airport was much more straightforward to get through than it was the last time we passed through. The airplane parked at the terminal this time; last time we needed to take a bus from the tarmac to the terminal. Even though we were in transit, connecting passengers still had to go through pre-boarding security, so anyone with water or drinks had to abandon those.
A smooth, but very full flight to Jordan deposited us in another large, modern airport some distance from Amman. We purchased our visas and experienced a rathe rude passport control officer, ignoring us at his counter seemingly much more intent on chatting and joking with a colleague while other passengers at other counters breezed through. Let us hope he was having a bad day and did not treat all visitors to his country in the same manner. Eventually, we located a taxi for the 49 min drive to the hotel where we will meet the rest of the tour group tomorrow.
The hotel is not what we are used to; it is quite opulent with big well-appointed rooms and a few little niceties like a fruit basket and tray of macaron sweets. We are here for 3 nights to begin our itinerary and 1 more night before leaving the country. Travellers to Jordan should get used to the idea that items here seem to be priced in dinars just like they would be in dollars at home at home. So their set menu ‘American Breakfast’ is about 17 dinars. At home, in a good hotel, the same would be around 17 dollars, give or take. The kicker is that the dinar is valued at $1.85, so be prepared if you travel here.
Early views on the city is that Amman is a large, modern city. We drove here on a modern highway. Of course, we have not seen much yet and will add more as we tour the city. The view from our 11th floor room isn’t exotic at all, although a lone minaret can be seen rising from the bustling cityscape.
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