The day started with a 4:15 am call to worship from the Grand King Hussein Mosque which is right outside our window. Lovely really, especially when you can go back to sleep............Today was out first day out of the hotel- thanks be to someone- we had some fresh air! Went on over to the El Meridian Hotel to register for our conference, stayed a minute or two, and then took a walk. Walking is an adventure here- no side walks, no cross walks, no lights to cross with and wacky traffic. Crossing the street to hail a cab was a life defying feat, but we made it. It says in all the guide books to cross with a Jordanian until you get the hang of it, but there wasn't one to be found.

I have decided that the hotel staff are not allowed to speak Arabic- if you speak Arabic to them they reply in English, unless you ask them something specific about an Arabic phrase, and then they will tell you in Arabic. Our lovely waiter last night told us of an authentic Arabic restaurant in the old city, where we will venture tonight. It's called Hashem, and is the oldest restaurant in the city, which is saying something for Amman. Gene is wary- a block long line and eating with your hands. I believe it will be his first adult experience at eating with his hands. Oh my.(I can see Tom, Sean and Kitty laughing from here)

Tomorrow our tour starts, inshah-allah, with Jesrah, a Roman ruin city about 40 kl away from Amman, lunch at El Lebanese restaurant, which is on Lonely PLanet's top ten list, and then back to Amman to visit the Citidel and Citidel Museum. The Citidel contains the Umayyad Palace complex built in 750 AD, the Roman Temple of Hercules from 180 AD and the Byzantine Church from the 7th century AD. Also nearby are the restored Roman Theater, the Roman Forum and the Nymphaeum, gardens that are apparently always located near a theater complex. No pics from today, but tomorrow should be rife with them. Blessings to you until we meet again!