The city of Amman is constantly brimming with traffic. The streets and highways are brimming with the swooshing and honking of cars. Fun fact: I heard from somewhere that a person dies every nine hours in the country due to crashes.
Last week, our tour bus swerved through the busy city. First stop was the Citadel of Amman. Dating back to the Ayyubid era, the Citadel was constructed while Amman was still under the rule of Babylon. We walked around the Temple of Heracles and through the old ruins, looking throughout the tombs and deconstructed architecture. The view from the edge of the ruins onto the city was incredible, but by the time we rushed back onto the bus our teachers were already angry that we were late.
Next we bussed to the stadium, another part of the citadel. There were hundreds of steep stairs that led up from the stadium. The other students slowly trekked them way up to the top as I stayed at the bottom and peered up. Due to my paralyzing fear of heights, I was deathly scared to continue walking up. Instead, I wandered into a museum that showcased various aspects of Jordanian culture. I took my time appreciating the traditional bracelets and clothing that were worn by shepards as well as the tile paintings underneath the museum.
Besides the tour of the historic sites, our group walked around some parts of the city. The most frequented area for tourists is definitely "Rainbow Street". This place is home to many cafes and hotspots, and I have already fallen in love with "Turtle Green," a lovely American-style café. In typical hipster-style, there is a chalkboard where tourists can their names or messages for future travelers, as well as delicious coffees and sandwiches. There are multiple hookah lounges as well and small trinket shops. Last years students advised towards going to bars and befriending the locals (I don't know how feasible this will be for me...) and we may check those out yet.
What I have not yet gotten used to is the constant barrage of staring, pointing, and comments that seem to follow me wherever I go. The lack of diversity within the country ensures that foreigners stand out, and especially given my Asian appearance I stand out quite a lot within the city.
Last week, our tour bus swerved through the busy city. First stop was the Citadel of Amman. Dating back to the Ayyubid era, the Citadel was constructed while Amman was still under the rule of Babylon. We walked around the Temple of Heracles and through the old ruins, looking throughout the tombs and deconstructed architecture. The view from the edge of the ruins onto the city was incredible, but by the time we rushed back onto the bus our teachers were already angry that we were late.
Next we bussed to the stadium, another part of the citadel. There were hundreds of steep stairs that led up from the stadium. The other students slowly trekked them way up to the top as I stayed at the bottom and peered up. Due to my paralyzing fear of heights, I was deathly scared to continue walking up. Instead, I wandered into a museum that showcased various aspects of Jordanian culture. I took my time appreciating the traditional bracelets and clothing that were worn by shepards as well as the tile paintings underneath the museum.
Besides the tour of the historic sites, our group walked around some parts of the city. The most frequented area for tourists is definitely "Rainbow Street". This place is home to many cafes and hotspots, and I have already fallen in love with "Turtle Green," a lovely American-style café. In typical hipster-style, there is a chalkboard where tourists can their names or messages for future travelers, as well as delicious coffees and sandwiches. There are multiple hookah lounges as well and small trinket shops. Last years students advised towards going to bars and befriending the locals (I don't know how feasible this will be for me...) and we may check those out yet.
What I have not yet gotten used to is the constant barrage of staring, pointing, and comments that seem to follow me wherever I go. The lack of diversity within the country ensures that foreigners stand out, and especially given my Asian appearance I stand out quite a lot within the city.
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