Middle-aged flash packers

A couple of days r&r at the beach has been just the ticket and we are recharged and ready for our last destination on the itinerary- Amman.

Slightly concerning are the pro-Palestine protests like those held yesterday throughout Jordan’s major cities. We initially had plans last night to go to a restaurant in Aqaba city centre but decided it might be wise to forgo that and eat at the hotel. As it happens there were no reports of violence and the protesters’ beef is not with us so from our travel point of view we are working on the assumption the itinerary continues as planned.

The drive from Aqaba to Amman was our longest so far – 4 hours to be precise. We stopped off briefly to have coffee, tea and a pee but otherwise it was flat out to Amman airport to return the cars and get a taxi to our final accommodation.

The area we are staying in is interesting although our accommodation is not. It’s a two bedroom apartment and it’s very basic. However it’s costing the four of us just over £200 for 2 nights so can’t complain. The mosque about 50 metres away will help get us up and out early.

We explored our local area led by guide Janice. The streets nearby are very arty and had a real buzz about them, with young locals sitting about drinking coffee and playing chess.

We stopped off for dinner at a local restaurant which was decorated most attractively with coloured mirrors and Arabic lampshades. Everyone seemed happy with their food apart from me. I ordered the local specialty, Mansaf, on the advice of the waiter. It was meat served on “dazzling” rice. The rice was doused in a yoghurt/cheese sauce which was tasty in a weird way but my lamb shank was cold – fridge cold – someone had obviously forgotten to heat it. The waiter chopped it open to confirm it had indeed not been cooked.There was loads of food though so I returned it and just ate fattoush which the Jordanians do exceptionally well.

Some other tourists came in and ordered food. Later, Jan noticed that one of them was eating Mansaf. After a closer snoop, Steve was convinced they had been served up my meat, artfully put back together, presumably now warmed through. Oh well, waste not, want not.

Stuffed to the gills, we set off to find the extremely hyped Rainbow Street. Supposedly full of restaurants and bars, it was quiet and rather forlorn. Very much for the tourists. We all preferred the energy of the area on our doorstep.

It was a half hour walk back “home” up many, many stairs. A couple of the places we walked through were a little sketchy but everyone is friendly – they seem particularly drawn to S for some strange reason- so although I quickened my pace, I didn’t feel threatened.

A quick nightcap and it was time for bed for the Fab Four.

Last day in Jordan tomorrow which we’ll spend exploring various areas of Amman.