Amman Citadel
Thursday we jumped in the car for an adventure in navigating the streets of Amman. Driving was a disaster due to lack of communication. I handed Justin a "map" of Amman and told him I mostly knew where we were going and indicated our current location and our desired destination. Jeremy and Jared had the day off school so we made them tag along. I got us about half way there then told Justin I needed to know what exit to take off the traffic circle. He couldn't find our street so we just drove around the upper old city near Rainbow street. I knew where to go with the map but it was impossible to navigate and drive. Justin lost his chance to drive so I dealt with it and eventually he apologized...it was I who needed to apologize. We ended up back at the same circle we got lost at and noticed a sign pointing to city center. After that I recognized our location. Phew. I kept trying to emulate Elder Haight's conference talk to laugh when you get lost on a vacation. I found a parking spot, illegal or legal it was where the Suburban stopped.
Our first stop was the Roman Amphitheater and Forum. Jared enjoyed racing to the theater top and playing "locate Jared." A gaggle of Jordanian women snatched Amelia from the ground mid-stride and whisked her to their break room, clucking over her cute outfit and hair. She was not too keen about the attention. Courtenay and Jeremy used the lack of supervision to take illegal pictures behind the museum ropes. Justin never tired of Amelia calling, "hi Daddy." We walked a bit to the North browsing two shops and a cool mosque during prayer time.
Justin drove, and I navigated to our next destination...much better arrangement. We took a rapid 30 minutes to check out the citadel and Temple of Hercules. Both places are located on the highest hill of the 7 hills surrounding Amman. The view from the top was incredible. Amelia loved playing on the rocks. Jeremy asked for his picture taken by this and that like any normal teenager wanting to update his Face Book account. Amelia started to complain due to stinky diaper and no nap, I resorted to playing "bum gun" with her (shooting her puncles with her bum). We were all starving by this time. Justin wanted a hamburger so we went off in search of a McDonald's. The combination of Jeremy and Jared's directions to McDonald's was enough to make several stops and u-turns only to end up at a Popeye's. Not! We went home for lunch and a nap.
Mom, Courtenay, and I stopped at the Embassy to decorate our corner for the Halloween party that evening. We did a marvelous job with a brown sheet, toilet paper, orange egg crates, and crepe paper. We RACED back home to get the rest of the clan only to go back to the Embassy for the party.
Amelia was totally cute in her "monkey with a banana" costume. I donned my pumpkin earrings like only a teacher (former) can ever wear with pride for the occasion. We waited in the annex for pictures then trick or treating. Each office decorated a corner or section of hallway. Some were really elaborate! My favorite was a Candy Land decorated hallway where each kid took a balloon and candy. Amelia's eyes were bigger than dinner plates once she realized people were giving her candy and mommy was letting her eat it. Justin and Courtenay helped push the stoller, thus sharing a portion of the candy booty.
We ended the evening seeing Dad whiz by going to his office for an evening of work (since he was not going in Friday afternoon or Saturday). The rest of us happily ate a greasy dinner of burgers and fries at Burger King. Even Amelia daintily dipped her fries and nibbled on a burger. She loves to dip anything she can. Little baby even likes hummus!
Our first stop was the Roman Amphitheater and Forum. Jared enjoyed racing to the theater top and playing "locate Jared." A gaggle of Jordanian women snatched Amelia from the ground mid-stride and whisked her to their break room, clucking over her cute outfit and hair. She was not too keen about the attention. Courtenay and Jeremy used the lack of supervision to take illegal pictures behind the museum ropes. Justin never tired of Amelia calling, "hi Daddy." We walked a bit to the North browsing two shops and a cool mosque during prayer time.
Justin drove, and I navigated to our next destination...much better arrangement. We took a rapid 30 minutes to check out the citadel and Temple of Hercules. Both places are located on the highest hill of the 7 hills surrounding Amman. The view from the top was incredible. Amelia loved playing on the rocks. Jeremy asked for his picture taken by this and that like any normal teenager wanting to update his Face Book account. Amelia started to complain due to stinky diaper and no nap, I resorted to playing "bum gun" with her (shooting her puncles with her bum). We were all starving by this time. Justin wanted a hamburger so we went off in search of a McDonald's. The combination of Jeremy and Jared's directions to McDonald's was enough to make several stops and u-turns only to end up at a Popeye's. Not! We went home for lunch and a nap.
Mom, Courtenay, and I stopped at the Embassy to decorate our corner for the Halloween party that evening. We did a marvelous job with a brown sheet, toilet paper, orange egg crates, and crepe paper. We RACED back home to get the rest of the clan only to go back to the Embassy for the party.
Amelia was totally cute in her "monkey with a banana" costume. I donned my pumpkin earrings like only a teacher (former) can ever wear with pride for the occasion. We waited in the annex for pictures then trick or treating. Each office decorated a corner or section of hallway. Some were really elaborate! My favorite was a Candy Land decorated hallway where each kid took a balloon and candy. Amelia's eyes were bigger than dinner plates once she realized people were giving her candy and mommy was letting her eat it. Justin and Courtenay helped push the stoller, thus sharing a portion of the candy booty.
We ended the evening seeing Dad whiz by going to his office for an evening of work (since he was not going in Friday afternoon or Saturday). The rest of us happily ate a greasy dinner of burgers and fries at Burger King. Even Amelia daintily dipped her fries and nibbled on a burger. She loves to dip anything she can. Little baby even likes hummus!
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