Amman

local church in an Amman suburb

Cathy was a colleague of mine in Bogota. She arrived and moved on from Colombia at the same time as K. and i did, having picked up a Colombian husband on the way - Christian. Hearing i am travelling up through Jordan, she invites me to stay at her apartment. Their lovely four year old son kindly donates his bedroom to me and although their location is some way from down-town, i have the creature comforts of a real apartment. And probably the most comfortable bed after 12 months on the road.

Christian has learnt English and is very much a Colombian. Salsa, Merrengue and Cumbian sounds fill the flat and we look through his photographic book on Colombia. It’s difficult not to feel some nostalgia. This is then further enhanced with a visit to Trader Vic’s in the basement of the Regent Palace Hotel where a Cuban trio pump out salsa late into the night.

Amman is a modern city with not much for the passing travellist in comparison to other capital cities in the region like Cairo and Damascus. Out in the north western suburb of Circle 8, the highlight for me is the City Mall where there is a Body Shop, Costa Coffee and fast food outlets. This is 21st Century civilization and i kinda forgotten what that looks like.

It’s a very liberal city and it’s easy to forget that Jordan is very much an Islamic country. Women go uncovered, wear make-up and body-hugging clothes. It’s great!