Amman- the citadel

Today I woke up late- around 11. I guess I'm still kind of jet lagged. I made myself some coffee and then had a bowl of cereal. I was ready to leave on my adventure into downtown Amman when Mego's mum, Karina, got home. She's so sweet. She totally fretted over me going out alone, and made sure to come out with me to get a cab and to make sure the cab knew where I wanted to go.

The cab driver was super nice and his English was excellent. He took me to the citadel and warned me about scams.

At the citadel, which are some Roman ruins on the highest hill in Amman, it was completely dead. I payed my 2JD to get in (about $4 Canadian) and then started wandering around. I felt immediately very alone, and I wondered what I was doing on this trip, by myself, in the Middle East. I guess it just sort of hit me.
So I sat down to calm myself and this man walked by with a box full of figs. He stopped and offered me one, of course, I wasn't sure if he was selling them or offering me one so I asked how much and he waived his hand- free. I took one and I felt completely at ease. I mean, it is Ramadan here, and you shouldn't really eat, especially in public, but here this Arab man just gave me a delicious fresh fig to eat in the sun. It was delectable. I was also really thankfull to Laura, because before about 2 weeks ago, I wouldn't have even known what it was this man was offering me, and I certainly wouldn't have known how to eat it! I had never had a fresh fig before Laura gave me one in Ottawa! How serendipidous
Then I saw these lizards, which were super cool. Later, I saw some really big ones, which I thought were more scary than cool. I couldn't take a picture because I was too busy getting away.

Anyway, I wandered around for a long time and took a few pictures...
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I also visited the archaeological museum, which wasn't too much, but it was interesting nonetheless. After I had had my fill of the deserted ruins I meandered down the streets to the downtown market area. On the way down I was greeted by many children, and mostly ignored by adults. The market was intense. I felt completely invisible, only not so- I felt conspicuously invisible, and thirsty, but because it is Ramadan, I didn't dare drink any water in front of all these thirsty souls.


I had no idea what time it was, but the traffic was getting really busy and I noticed that all the cabs were full, so I decided to hop into the next available one to go "home." During Ramadan, everyone stops working at about 5:30 and even cabs won't pick you up because they just want to go home to eat (and drink some water!). I managed to find a free cab, only he spoke no English and didn't know where the address I wanted to go to was, so I managed to get him there with pointing. When we got to where I'm staying we shook hands, it had truly been a joint effort.

Mego, Huda and I went out for ice cream and a couple of drinks tonight at a little bar/book store. I also got a phone today! I have a Jordanian phone number. Wow, I tell you, just wow!