This weekly wrap-up covers our journey from October 27 to November 2. We checked out of our resort in Bodrum on Monday and flew to Amman on Tuesday morning. We spent two nights each in Amman and Madaba before heading down to Wadi Rum for a desert camping experience on Saturday.
Favorite thing we ate: We went on a quest down Rainbow Street in Amman to find makloubeh (or maqluba, or many other variant spellings), an “upside-down” dish with rice, chicken and vegetables. We found it at VU’s, and it was delicious–Jonathan’s favorite meal of the week! We’ve ordered it at a few other places since then, and it’s always a little different, but the first one we ordered is still our favorite [above left]. Megan also loved the makloubeh (I mean, rice and potatoes? can’t beat that!) but wants to recognize the very affordable (55 piastres!) and delicious falafel sandwich from Al Quds Falafel [above right].
Favorite thing we drank: Alcohol is not hugely prevalent in Jordan, as it is a predominantly Muslim country. Carakale is a microbrewery (possibly the only one in Jordan) located right outside Amman, and Jonathan enjoyed trying their blonde ale [above left]. Megan quickly became addicted to the smoothie-like “lemon with mint” drink [above right] seemingly served at every restaurant in Jordan. As one restauranteur in Al-Karak told us, “Americans love the lemon with mint.” Yes we do! Please give us more.
Favorite thing we did: Jonathan enjoyed our last few days of lying on the beach in Bodrum in the beginning of the week. (See last week’s wrap-up for more details on our relaxing stay at an all-inclusive resort!) Megan’s favorite moment of the week was arriving in Wadi Rum [first sunset pictured above]. We weren’t super impressed with Amman or Madaba, sadly, and as we drove south to Wadi Rum on Saturday, I joked with Jonathan that I was hoping the Jordan desert was like the American West: You drive through Nevada and it’s hideous and desolate (sorry Nevadans, but I don’t love your state’s landscape!), but then you arrive in Utah and you realize why people love the desert. Wadi Rum was definitely our Utah. All the heart eyes!!
Biggest splurge: Jordan overall has not been an inexpensive country. We usually avoid renting cars when traveling, but when planning our time in Jordan, we discovered public transportation is not amazing and transfer options are expensive. It was going to be cheaper to rent a car for a whole week than to take taxis to two locations we wanted to visit (including Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan, the baptismal site of Jesus). Sheesh. So renting a car it was, but this also allowed us to visit some places we might not have seen otherwise, like Karak Castle on our drive from Madaba to Wadi Rum.
What we’re reading: Jonathan finished The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang (verdict: just as good as The Poppy War!) and started Recursion by Blake Crouch. Megan finished Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernières, listened to the hilarious Ali Wong narrate her new memoir Dear Girls, and started reading We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria by Wendy Pearlman and Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai. (I think this is the most eclectic reading week I’ve ever had….)
Total walking distance: 34.38 miles
Up next: Exploring more of Jordan before heading to Egypt on Friday. We are continuing to monitor the conditions in Lebanon, as we would still love to visit!
Featured image: Rooftop view of Amman, Jordan
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