Amman arrival.

The Amman airport was far less glitzy than where we had just come from (Dubai). I expected to see hotel shuttle buses, but it seemed that taxi was our only option. So we got some cash (Jordanian Dinar) and ended up in a cab which charged a flat fee of 21JD (about $26 if I've done the math right). It seemed high at first, but it was a pretty long drive so the rate wasn't so bad after all.

We are staying at the Hotel Intercontinental, and I was pleased to note that we have a pharmacy, a bookstore, AND a post office within the building. I was not pleased to note the dozens of people smoking right in the hotel lobby. Foul! It's not someting you generally run into at these large international chains.

To enter the building, we had to pass through a metal detector and have our luggage scanned. I imagine they started this policy after the devastating 2005 terrorist bombings here in Amman. This was a series of three coordinated suicide bombings at the city's top hotels (Radisson, Grand Hyatt, Day's Inn). 60 people were killed, and the tourism industry took a real beating.

My big activity upon arrival was a visit to the pharmacy (the lady was smoking behind the counter!) and then a peek in the bookstore. Then I needed to go to bed -- I am still having stomach issues, and I was feeling very bad at this point. So Steve explored our neighborhood on his own, stopping at our local grocery store (It's called Haboob. Hee hee.). He came back and reported that we seem to be in a decent area. Good. And hopefully I will be able to get out and see it tomoroow!