On a personal note ...

I have not long returned from an amazing 10 days in Jordan, where I had so much fun, celebrated with friends, saw and experienced things that have long been on my bucket list. I have also been on the receiving end of incredible hospitality and eaten lots of amazing food.

I took hundreds of photos and have tried to pick just a handful to share with you 😀

DAY ONE

Rachel and I had arrive at about 1am Saturday morning, and got just a few hours sleep. After a breakfast of bread & hummus (amazing hummus) it was time to get ready for our trip to Jerash along with all of Aiste's and Basel's families.

Several hours of exploring this fascinating site, was followed by a fabulous lunch ...

In the evening, many ladies gathered at Basel's home for a pre-wedding celebration, with food, music and much dancing.

Knafeh is a traditional Arabic dessert, made with spun pastry called kataifi, soaked in a sweet, sugar-based syrup called attar, and typically layered with cheese, or with other ingredients such as clotted cream, pistachio or nuts, depending on the region. Super sweet, super yummy and super filling!!!

Basel was allowed to make an appearance
part way through the celebrations.

DAY TWO

During the day, my friend Afaf (who did her Masters in Medway), took Rachel and I to the Amman Citadel and to explore a little of the downtown.

Here, I tasted the very best falafels I've
ever tasted in my entire 65 years & 55
days of existence!!! I will never again
eat a falafel in the UK 😟

In the evening, following a family event at the house. we had the privilege of celebrating Aiste & Basel's marriage at the Harir Palace Hotel.

DAY THREE

A lovely relaxing day  ...  bit of a lay in, then Rachel and I headed off for a wonderful massage at Deniz Blue Spa.

Followed by a super tasty, super filling family meal in the 'Barakat Gardens of Amman' 😀

DAY FOUR & FIVE
Woohoo, we're heading off to the Dead Sea 😀  When I was a teenager, my mother visited the Dead Sea and ever since, I have wanted that experience of just floating.  For someone who can't swim and is a little afraid of water, the fact that I could just float without fear of drowning was so cool!  We had a marvellous over night stay at the Grand East Hotel 😀

"Look! It's the Dead Sea."

"... and that's me floating!"

Doing the Dead Sea mud thing ...
it's a must!!!

DAY SIX & SEVEN

A dream come true and a tick on the old bucket list ... I got to see Petra.  Even the walk there through the canyon was incredible, but as the first sight of Petra comes in to view "Oh my word, it's magnificent."  I wondered about the experience of explorer Johann Burckhardt when he discovered the site in 1812.

Next stop  ... Wadi Rum, and a night in the desert at Aladdin camp. Soon after arriving, but before food, we went for an hours jeep ride.  I loved every minute of the beautiful red sand and incredible rock formations.  Sadly, our sunset experience wasn't what it might have been as the air was so hazy and full of sand.  Aiste said, "I have so much sand up my nose, I could build a castle!"

Enjoying the peace &
majesty of our desert setting.

After breakfast, we headed off to Aqaba, on the northern tip of the Red Sea.  Aiste and family all enjoyed a trip on a glass bottom boat, whilst Rachel and I made new friends on a one hour yacht ride.

We met back up at a place called Fruit Salad to enjoy a 'healthy' something before the five hour coach ride back to Amman. This was my feast ... crepes stuffed with banana, covered in pistacchio paste, with pineapple, strawberries and those wee tube-like wafers.  I was oh so full, I could hardly walk!

DAY EIGHT

On this day, several of our group were heading home, but I was pleased to have another three days. I spent a large portion of the day with Afaf 💖  We went downtown for more exploring and enjoyed time simply walking and catching up over iced latte and lunch.

I love this photo 💖

Afaf took me to the Museum of Signs, where they have collected numerous old and no-longer-wanted advertising and business signs from around the city. It was really interesting.

Our early evening was then spent at 'BlaBla Language Exchange'. I thoroughly enjoyed this time, it had some similarities to TABLEtalk.  The discussion topic for the evening was 'AGE'.  When I look in the mirror, I keep reminding myself of Afaf's comment, "Every wrinkle tells a story."  Thank you, Afaf, for taking me to this wonderful event, I felt so welcome.

DAY NINE

I ventured out all by myself 😀   Getting an Uber at 7:30am, to the JETT bus station, for a day trip to Bethany, the site of Jesus' baptism; Mt Nebo, from where Moses saw the promised land; and, after lunch, to Madaba, an old Roman town, famous for its mosaics.

DAY TEN

My last day in Jordan 😢😢😢  Had an easy morning, slept a little late and did my packing.  Aiste and Basel's mum were going for a spa afternoon, and invited me along ... I didn't hesitate too much.  Oh my word, the best spa of my entire life!!!  Deniz Blue Spa is highly recommended.

Unfortunately, it did make us late for lunch with Afaf and her parents (for which I am still embarrassed 😞)  

Despite our tardiness, they made Basel, Aiste and myself so very welcome, and the feast Afaf's mum had prepared was truly marvellous!!  The maqlouba tasted wonderful.  After the main meal, we enjoyed coffee and dessert out on the balcony, followed by refreshing watermelon.

The following morning I left early for my mid-day flight home to a VERY COLD ENGLAND 😖  I'm so convinced I was born in the wrong country!!

Thank you, Aiste & Basel,

for helping to make

all this possible!!!