A flutter of excitement filled my chest as our zone was called to board the plane. Yes, it was partly due to the Italian airport wine, but the unknown was giving me such a rush! The destination at hand is Jordan, my first encounter with the Middle East. And I had no idea what to expect, I had visited Marrakech, Morocco, but the cultures are only adjacently similar. This isn’t North Africa, this is a region that has been blasted as a war zone from our media sources, the land of constant strife over religion and land.
I board the Ryanair plane with a little inkling that my world will never be the same once I begin this journey.
Let me take a minute to sing the praises of Ryanair. Their flights are so clutch for jet-setting all over the Eastern Hemisphere for crazy, amazing fares.
Upon arrival, it was off to customs, an hour and a half customs line. Where they ask where, better yet, try to guess your nationality. These are always fun for me because the options I hear are amazing: Ethiopia, Somalia, Cuba, Great Britain, and then I open my mouth to speak, the customs agent instantly presses the passport stamp and murmurs, “American”.
Just as a tip, if you need a taxi, go to the left of the airport exit, continue on until you reach the curb of the parking lot. The taxi guy will tell you 6-7 JD, but you shouldn’t have to pay more than 3 JD if you are going into the city of Aqaba. See if he will barter a little. The taxi driver will automatically ask you if you want to arrange a ride to Wadi Rum for a later date on your trip. Don’t feel pressured to book with them. I actually suggest asking your hotel/hostel staff for pointers and tips.
Oh yeah, for my North American and European nomads, the old saying applies, “Your money’s no good here,” but this time I mean it literally, the euro and US dollar is pennies compared to Jordan Dinah. So it can get expensive but whatever you purchase will be well worth it. Portions are huge and services go above and beyond.
So for around 10 JD or $14, you can get a 3-course meal that looks something like this:
And yes, it is good! A delicious mix of Arab and Turkish cuisine, a mix of tradition and adventure.
Would you eat this?
