Myself and some frequent CT commentators are about to leave our homes for Amman, to attend “the 2010 conference of the Human Development and Capability Association”:http://www1.ju.edu.jo/conferences1/oirsite/Home.aspx. It’s a packed program and I’m rushing in and out, so will have very little time for any sightseeing, and no time to travel outside Amman at all. Yet I hope to see at least something else than the University Buildings and my hotel – perhaps visit the most interesting Mosque or historical site of Amman? Any tips?
{ 7 comments }
Eric 09.17.10 at 11:28 pm
Haven’t been there in ages, but the museum right on top of the old citadel hill in Amman is spartan, but very good. Sorry, can’t remember the name.
Trey 09.18.10 at 3:23 am
Make sure you go to Hashem Restaurant for plenty of hummus, falafel, and ful. The downtown Roman ruins are fairly interesting.
Peter 09.18.10 at 7:36 pm
When I was in Amman not to long ago the citadel was in the middle of major construction, but the view from there is very nice.
To be fair, though, there’s actually not much that’s historically interesting in Amman – but it is a rather fascinating modern, Arab city. It’s absolutely epic – you stand at the citadel and you can see the business centre developments way off in the distance, knowing that there’s more city after that.
PS Don’t forget to go to Hamoudeh DVD to buy very cheap DVDs of dubious legality… I came back weighed down by two massive bags of DVDs, much to the amusement of the officials checking my passport!
Laban 09.20.10 at 7:25 pm
Annan ? A quite pleasant small town close to the Solway Firth and with a long history.
Oh, Amman !
iolanthe 09.21.10 at 5:43 am
I know you specified not outside Amman, but Jerash is not all that far away – 30 minutes by taxi – and is one of the great roman sites of the world. The only reason it’s not better known is Petra which pretty much eclipses anything else in Jordan. And, yes, as per previous commentators, there is little else in Amman itself apart from the Citadel and the Ampitheatre.
kharris 09.21.10 at 8:17 pm
“I and some frequent CT common ‘taters…” Myself gets dusted off if I’m doing the dusting. Myself gets reminded if I’m doing the reminding. Myself gets scolded for abusing the language if I’m doing the scolding, and the abusing. I do the traveling.
Standards, people.
Strewelpeter 09.23.10 at 1:48 pm
Its a shame if you can’t make time for a day trip to Petra or a leisurely drive via Madaba over that enormous gorge whose name escapes me to Karak castle.
My favourite thing to do in Amman is just walking around in the evenings. Try and go up to the Shemensani district and sit out on one of the pavement restaurants and watch the world go by.
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