One-Third of Tour Done: an Accounting

Dan and I realized that we have now finished 1/3 of our tour. Eight months done. 16 months to go. We had been cautioned that time would fly by quickly and it has. Since arriving, we have:

• Visited Petra 2x for fun (Dan) and a million times for work (Duffy).


• Visited both of Jordan’s UNESCO World Heritage sites - Petra and the marketing-challenged Um Ar-Rasas (we have pictures to put online).


• Drunk half of the champagne we brought and eaten all of the cereal but thankfully Dan received a lot of breakfast cereal for Christmas so we are well-supplied until at least July.
  Been to 4 out of 5 of Amman’s movie theatres, 1 of 2 bowling alleys and all 3 sushi restaurants.


• We have visited two of the four countries that border Jordan and are very unlikely to visit Iraq or Saudi Arabia.


• We have seen six of the top eight tourist sites. Yes: Petra, Jerash, Dead Sea, Bethany, Um Qais, and the Citadel. Not yet: Aqaba (although Duffy goes next week) and Wadi Rum.


• We have had no meetings with the King but Duffy did have a week when his first cousin called her every day, seven or eight times a day waiting for an answer about some equipment from the US. It is probably the only time in her life when she will screen calls from royalty.


• We have watched 3 1/2 Seasons of 24 on DVD and have Season 5 ready for viewing.


• We have eaten hummus every week.


• We have seen hundreds of camels, thousands of sheep and now consider feral cats no cuter than rats, except for one fluffy grey one outside of our neighbor’s house.

All of the talk in Amman is about inflation. The cabs all just increased their fares and restaurant menus have stickers over the old prices with newer, higher prices. Even the New York Times noticed.

Feral cat - see? Not that cute.