Introduction

``Both geographically and historically, Jordan is a bridge and a frontier. Geographically it is both an east-west bridge between the Mediterranean and the great Syrian and Arabian deserts, with the Rift as frontiers between the two regions: and also a north-south bridge between Asia Minor and eastern Africa. Historically it is a ridge between Neanderthal and modern man between the desert and the town between the ancient East and the developing culture of the Mediterranean between Egypt and the northern barbarians between polytheism and monotheism between Judaism and Christianity and a frontier between Islam and Christendom between western imperialism and Middle East nationalism and between Arab and Jew.'' - Julian Huxley.

Visitors to Israel are now considering excursions to Jordan, which is so close and until recently was so far away, at least for anyone with an Israeli stamp in his passport.
At this point, just over a year after a formal peace treaty was signed between the two countries, a 2-4 day guided tour is probably the best way of seeing something of Jordan.
Several travel agencies (Galilee Tours, tel. (03)5252999 / (02)258866 Mazada, tel. (03)544454 / (02)235777) offer tours to the main sites for two to three hundred dollars.
Those who are not rushed and like to travel independently will find Jordan inexpensive and have a chance to meet more Jordanians, who tend to be friendly and helpful with visitors from abroad.
Petra is the one attraction not to be missed if time or some other reason compels you to limit yourself to a single stop. During the 1950s Petra became an obsession for Israeli youths who saw it as a challenge to cross the border illegally, visit the stupendous Nabatean city carved out of red rock, and return undetected.
The handful of other archaeological and natural attractions most people insist on seeing include the remains of the Roman city at Jerash the town of Madaba (with its well-known mosaic map) Mt. Nebo (the traditional site of Moses' death) the Crusader fortress at Karak Azraq oasis (for wildlife enthusiasts) the desert castles east of Amman (for archaeologists and historians) Wadi Rum (associated with Lawrence of Arabia) Amman, the capital, and usually the first stop and Aqaba, the Red Sea port / resort across the bay from Elat where sun lovers come to escape northern cold.

Historical Outline

Although the state of Jordan is a creation of the 20th century, the territory of Transjordania, east of the river Jordan, includes the biblical lands of Bashan and Gilead, important centres of Jewish life until well after the destruction of the Second Temple. The Jewish population declined under Byzantine rule and was even more drastically reduced after the Moslem conquest. By the mid-20th century, Jordan was Judenrein.
After World War I and the Arab revolt in which T.E. Lawrence got the locals to help Britain oust the Turks from the area, Transjordania was included in the territory of the British Mandate for Palestine. In 1921, Prince Abdullah, of the ruling Hashemite family of Mecca, was recognized as emir of Transjordan. And his emirate, comprising the substantial majority of the land mass of Palestine, was excluded from the articles in the Mandate relating to a Jewish National Home, which was to be carved out of what was left on the other side of the river and shared with the remaining Arab residents there. In 1946 Abdullah was crowned king, with Britain's blessing.
During the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, the Jordanian Arab Legion occupied East Jerusalem and the Old City, as well as areas of the West Bank, which were incorporated in what became known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1950.
Abdullah was assassinated by a fellow-Arab in Jerusalem's El-Aqsa Mosque in July 1951. His son Talal succeeded him, but was mentally unbalanced, and within a year his grandson Hussein, the present king, came to power at the extraordinarily young age of 17.
In the 1967 Six Day War Israel retook the Old City of Jerusalem, occupied the West Bank (Judaea and Samaria), and left Jordan in control essentially of the area of the old emirate, east of the river.
When, in 1971, Hussein crushed the PLO forces in his country in what came to be known as ``Black September'', Syria threatened to attack the kingdom but was deterred by an Israeli mobilization. Two years later, Jordan refrained from opening another front against Israel in the Yom Kippur War, but did send troops to Syria to boost the general Arab effort.
In the mid-1980s, King Hussein announced an ambitious five-year development plan for the West Bank (although it was entirely under Israeli control) but in July 1988, about half-a-year after the beginning of the intifada, he scrapped the plan and cut off all administrative and legal ties with the West Bank.
When Iraq's Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990 and found himself embroiled in the Gulf War in January-February 1991, he had the moral and economic support of Jordan's king. But all that has changed now, and the king is openly urging the replacement of Saddam as a step towards the return of normal life in Iraq.
Jordan's 1994 agreement with Israel promises to turn into a true and lasting peace. The king's friendship, warmth and commitment, however, are offset by grass-roots antagonism: Jordanian professional unions are still hostile to Israel violently anti-Israel organizations have offices in Jordan and there are Jordanians who won't touch Israeli goods or speak to Israeli tourists. Nonetheless, it is generally agreed that relations between the two neighbours are warmer than those between Israel and Egypt.
In February 1996, Israeli visitors were warned to keep a low profile in Jordan. Fearing terrorist attacks, the Israeli government advised its nationals to stick to main roads, avoid routines, and not emphasize the fact that they are Israelis. An instruction sheet containing thirty suggestions was drawn up by the prime minister's adviser on terrorism. Among the suggestions: Don't visit tourist sites after dark fill out hotel reception forms on the spot so as not to leave you passport with the clerk and don't accept mail or packages.
But it should be noted that, at the same time, i.e. February 1996, King Hussein took steps to align his bureaucracy with his vision of ``a real peace, a warm peace'' without barriers between people. He retired many of his longtime aides who had grudgingly gone along with the changes and appointed a new government headed by pro-Western technocrats with a clear mandate to remove barriers to peace.
In March 1996 Israelis and Jordanians were permitted to drive their private vehicles into each other's country. Before this restriction was lifted, some 100,000 Israelis had already been across on guided tours.

Geography

The total area of the country is 89,213 sq.km., of which the land area comprises 88,884 sq.km. It is slightly smaller than the state of Indiana.
Land boundaries: Israel 238 km. West Bank 97 km., Iraq 181 km. Saudi Arabia 720 km. Syria 375 km. coastline 26 km. Climate: Mostly arid desert the rainy season is from November to April and affects the western part of the country.

Population

The July 1993 total was 3,823,636, of whom 98% were Arabs, 1% Circassians and 1% Armenians. In 1996 the total was well over four million. Ninety-two percent of the population are Sunni Moslems about 6% are Christians, mostly Greek Orthodox. There are small numbers of Shi'ites and Chechens. There is a substantial Bedouin minority - some 5,000 still live the traditional way outdoors between 50,000 and 100,000 live in towns and cities. About 60% of the total population are Palestinians. Some one and a quarter million people live in Amman (one and a half million if you count the peripheries), and about 500,000 in Zarqa. Some 400,000 live in Irbid.

Administrative Divisions

A constitutional monarchy, Jordan is divided into eight governorates: Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, Amman. At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid and Ma'an.
The legal system is based on Islamic law and French codes.

Political Parties

Approximately 24 parties the number fluctuates. After the 1989 parliamentary elections, King Hussein promised to allow the formation of political parties a national charter setting forth the ground rules for democracy in Jordan - including the creation of political parties - was approved in principle in June 1991. The last elections to the House of Representatives were held in 1993. Suffrage: 20 years of age universal.

Executive Branch

Monarch, prime minister, deputy prime minister, cabinet.

Legislative Branch

The bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or House of Notables and a lower house or House of Representatives.

Visas

Travel agents in Israel will arrange a visa for you. They usually take seven days. Israelis pay about $15 for a visa US nationals, slightly more. The Jordanian Embassy is at 14 Derekh Abba Hillel, Ramat Gan. Tel. (03)7517722. Fax: (03)7517712/3. Keep your passport on you at all times as you travel around the country.

Jordanian Embassies Abroad

US: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington DC. 20008. Tel. (202)9662675.
Britain: 6 Upper Philimore Gardens, London, W8 7HB. Tel.(071)9373685.
France: 80 Blvd Maurice Barres, 92200 Neuilly-Seine, Paris. Tel.(1)46245138.
Germany: 21 Beethovenallee, 5300 Bonn 2. Tel.(228)354052.

Currency

The Jordanian dinar (JD) was exchanged for 4.28/4.39 shekels and US$1.5 at the beginning of 1996. The US’$=JD 0.708 the UK pound = JD 1.34.
The dinar = 1,000 fils. There are coins of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500 fils. (Ten girsh = 100 fils.) There are notes of 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 20 dinars.
Banks are closed on Fridays and other holidays. Their hours are 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. daily and 4-6 p.m. in summer (3:30-5 p.m. in winter).

Health

No special inoculations are required if you're coming from Israel. Tap water is safe in most places but bottled water is available. Normal precautions should be taken against food-borne bacteria. Modern medical care and medicines are available in principle cities, but not in outlying areas. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment.

Getting There

There are three points of entry: the Arava crossing, north of Elat the Allenby Bridge near Jericho the Shekh al-Hussein Bridge near Bet Shean. (Between 1948 and 1967, those authorized to travel to Jordan from Israel crossed at the Mandelbaum Gate in Jerusalem.)

Departure Tax

A departure tax is payable at the bridges. Slightly higher rates are payable at the Amman and Aqaba airports and at Aqaba port.

Border Crossing

After paying $15 for a visa (the price varies with nationality), and another $15 border tax, you have to pay NIS3 for the bus ride to the Jordanian side in an Egged bus (and another NIS3 when you return - for a Jordanian bus to the Israeli side).
The border is where you change your dollars and/or shekels for Jordanian dinars. The ``banks'' here give you a better rate than you will get in hotels in Jordan, which charge a 2.5 percent commission.
Border procedures can take anything from two hours (forty-five mniutes on the Israeli side, one and a quarter hours on the Jordanian side) to three or four hours.

Traveling In Jordan

Service-taxis, the equivalent of Israeli sheruts, are available at all hours, as are ordinary taxis. The service-taxis are faster and more comfortable and not much more expensive than the buses. Most of the starting points are in side streets and the taxis go when they fill up. JETT minibuses are the required means of transportation at the bridges they are also a fairly expensive way of getting to the tourist destinations from Amman. Advance booking required. The JETT office is above the Abdali station, opposite the Parliament building.
The Abdali station is the terminal for transport to the north. It's on King Hussein St., 2 km. north of the centre.
The terminus for points east is near the Roman theatre. For points south the terminus is at Sharq al-Awsat (Middle East Circle). There is a bus connecting this terminal with the Abdali station.
You can book a seat on an ordinary bus to Petra, Aqaba, or the King Hussein Bridge. But you must reserve your seat at least a day before.
There is a railway - the Hejaz line dating from the beginning of the century. It runs from the Syrian border to the Saudi border, and was originally intended to transport pilgrims to Mecca.

AMMAN

80 km. ENE of Jerusalem 40 km. from the border crossing. As good a starting point as any, Amman, the capital and the centre of Jordan's industrial activity, was built on seven hills, like Rome, and today sprawls over twenty-two hills.
Amman was known in biblical times as Rabbah (Rabbath) Ammon, and was the main fortified city of the Ammonites. In the 11th century BCE, it was captured by the Israelites: ``Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. And Joab sent messengers to David, and said: `I have fought against Rabbah, yea, I have taken the city of waters. Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.' And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.'' (II Samuel 12:26-30). A few rock-hewn tombs are all that remain from this period.
Remains from the Chalcolithic period have been found in the area of the city. Early Bronze Age finds show that there was a link with Mesopotamia, Turkey, and the Greek islands.
During the 3rd century BCE it was occupied by the Greeks, first under Alexander and then the Ptolemies. Ptolemy Philadelphus (283-246 BCE) rebuilt the city and renamed it Philadelphia.
The Nabateans ruled here for a short while until ousted by Herod in 30 BCE.
Under the Romans it became one of a group of commercially linked cities known as the Decapolis (the other nine being Jerash, Gadara (Umm Qais), Scythopolis (Bet Shean), Damascus, Pella, Hippos, Canatha, Raphana and Dion).
The Romans turned the city into a district centre and constructed elegant public buildings, including a temple to Hercules and an amphitheatre (in the 3rd-4th century), much of which may still be seen.
The temple to Hercules is on Citadel hill, as is the Jordanian Archaeological Museum, which houses some of the most significant finds from the area. The modern city is a clean if confusing sprawl of limestone buildings, the result apparently of not enough planning. There were 2,000 people here at the turn of the century development was assured when Abdullah made it the capital of his emirate in the early twenties. By the mid-forties, however, the population was only 5,000. In 1963, it was 245,00. Today's number is a staggering 1.25-1.5 million, the result of the Palestinian influx after the 1948 and 1967 wars, and natural increase. In summer, when expatriate workers return home for a visit, the number swells to 2 million. The Palestinian refugee camps were transformed into suburbs in the 1970s.
The old parts of Amman today have their own charm and elegance, but also resemble East Jerusalem or Ramallah, multiplied several times. The newer parts recall aspects of Tel Aviv, and tend to look soulless. Amman enjoys cool, dry, bracing mountain air, some 1,000m. in altitude. The central city area - ``downtown'' - is at the foot of four of the seven originally settled hills. Here you'll find the Hussein Mosque, the Nymphaeum, the National Archaeology Museum, the Citadel, reasonably priced hotels, restaurants, the Central Post Office (on Prince Mohammed St.), and bus and service-taxi stops. Just beyond the downtown area, a few minutes' walk away, are the Roman theatre and Odeum. Pepsi Cola signs alongside red and blue awnings at a restaurant at the entrance to the amphitheatre provide an incongruous contrast between the symbols of two empires, one defunct and the other still ascendant. King Hussein's palace is located behind walls on a slope between the amphitheatre and the Citadel. As you drive up the hills resemble densely packed honeycombs of homes and other limestone buildings.
The State Department advisory notes that petty crime is prevalent in the downtown Hashemiyah Court area and around the Roman amphitheatre. Visiting these areas during the day and in groups will reduce the risk of petty crime.
Adjoining the downtown area is Jebel Amman, the main hill from which you start at the 1st and go on to the 2nd and 3rd traffic circles (there are eight and some aren't ``circles''). More restaurants and hotels here, as well as embassies (including the $75 million US Embassy/fortress behind impregnable walls the British Embassy, also behind walls and the Israeli Embassy), Parliament, the octagonal (like the Dome of the Rock) King Abdullah Mosque where King Hussein prays every Friday, Coptic and Greek Orthodox churches, bus company agents, buses and service-taxis to the West Bank, the Department of Antiquities, banks and a ``fun park.'' The main landmark here is the Jordan Tower Centre. The Ministry of Tourism is located near the 3rd circle.
Problems of getting around, if you aren't a great walker, can be solved by using the ubiquitous service-taxis. Cabs are yellow and easily spotted.
The attractions do not justify a long stay. Amman, for the visitor, is essentially a starting point for trips to the north and the south.

Sights

The Roman Theatre: Cut into the side of a hill in the second century CE, it is in remarkable condition and seats 6,000.
Restoration work began in 1957. The best view of it is from Citadel Hill. There was a colonnaded garden in front, part of which survives. A few minutes' walk from downtown along Hashemi St. or Quraysh St. Entrance free.

The Odeum: To the east of the theatre, a smaller theatre for musical performances, dating from the same time as the larger theatre.

The Nymphaeum: Southeast of the theatre, a temple/fountain in honour of the nymphs. In Roman times the site was frequented not only by courting couples but also by hyenas that came to drink here at night.

The Folklore Museum: At the eastern end (right wing) of the theatre, contains Bedouin and other exhibits. Open Sat.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Entrance fee.

The Jewels and Costumes Museum: In the western wing of the theatre, it contains mosaics from Madaba, Jerash and other sites where they were under threat from vandals. Closed Tues. Entrance fee.

The Citadel: Situated near the National Archaeology Museum, the hilltop site of the ancient city of Amman faces the Roman theatre across the valley. Bronze Age relics were found here. The nearby qasr is ascribed to the Ummayads and dated to the 8th century.
On the hill are the ruins of a small Byzantine church and a Temple to Hercules (from the time of the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius, justly renowned for his Meditations). Three pillars are still standing here, and a sign tells us that excavations (slow as they are) are being carried out under the sponsorship of USAID.
From the Citadel you have the best view in the city of the amphitheatre, the cardo (which in Amman did not have a strictly north-south axis), and the nymphaeum. Like most Ammonite cities, the one on the Citadel was once surrounded by walls and towers, in this case of limestone. From the Citadel the Romans constructed a secret underground passage to the amphitheatre, to enable their soldiers to get there undetected.

The National Archaeology Museum: Some of the Dead Sea Scrolls, a copy of the Mesha Stele, remains from Jericho, and Ummayad artifacts are to be found in this small museum. Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily except Tues. Fri. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Entrance fee.

The Jordan University Archaeology Museum: Another small museum, with Bronze Age and Iron Age finds, as well as items from the Greek, Roman and Islamic periods. Open Sun. - Thurs. Entrance free


Restaurants 

The (relatively) expensive ones are in the Jebel Amman area the centre has a large number of small, simple restaurants and cafes, generally clean. Some of the restaurants have rooftop/verandah seating.

Fast Food

Popey's. Shmeisani. Tel. 601721.
Pomodoro. Sweifieh. Tel. 810495.
Cheers Take-away. Turino Hotel. Sweifieh. Tel. 863944.
China Inn, Sweifieh. Tel. 861303.
Tom & Jerry. Shmeisani. Tel. 681826. 7th Circle. Tel. 825940.
Jolly Bee. Shmeisani. Tel. 681200. Medena St. Tel. 688066.
Kentucky Fried Chicken. Shmeisani. Tel. 671608. Opp. University of Jordan. Tel. 839124.
Humphrey's. University Commercial Complex. Tel. 830640.
Roy's Drive Inn. Abdullah Ghousheh St. Tel. 821181.
Boston Fried Chicken. Sweifieh. Tel. 783203.
Chili House. Opp. University of Jordan. Tel. 837033.
Garden St. Tel. 688778. Shmeisani. Tel. 681707.

Casual Meals/ Pizza

Little Caesar. Pizza. Abdullah Ghousheh St. Tel. 862135.
Milano Casual Italian. Shmeisani. Tel. 680670.
Pizza Hut. Delivery Service. Shmeisani. Tel. 681640. Mecca St. 621938.
Kenny Rogers Roasters. Abdullah Ghousheh St. Fax 815046.
Nouroz. Continental. 3rd Circle. Tel. 642380.
Napoli Pizza. Al Rabiya Circle. Tel. 698504.
Mama Mia Casual Italian. Shmeisani. Tel. 682122.
Garfield's. Restaurant & Coffee Shop Al Rabiya. Tel. 691004/5.
Chicken Tikka. Indian Style Food. Gardens St. Tel. 605491.
Cheers at Turino. Casual Western. Turino Hotel. Sweifieh. Tel. 816690.
Adam's. 151 Circle, Rainbow St. Tel. 645229.
Bamboo Cafe. Shmeisani. Tel. 693628.
Babische. Shmeisani. Tel. 661322.
Al Qaser Garden. Al Qaser Hotel. Shmeisani. Tel. 689671/2, 666140.
Frosti Italian Ice Cream. Um Uthania. Tel. 864237. Shmeisani. Tel. 661503.
Cheers Elite Cafe. Turino Hotel. Sweifieh. Tel. 863944.
Vienna Cafe. Amra Hotel 6th Circle. Tel. 81507.
Chez Hilda. Sweifieh. Tel. 824808.
Al Farouki, Shmeisani. Tel. 678580.
Geneva. Shmeisani. Tel. 669100.
Hubbly Bubbly (Nargile) Cafe's Arabesque. Shmeisani. Tel. 698005.
Al Mawardi. Al Rabiya Housing. Tel. 692010.
Strand. Shmeisani. Tel. 660927.
Layali Al Sultan. Shmeisani. Tel. 601230.

Arab Food

Seven Hills Restaurant. Airport Rd. Tel. 09-802177.
Al Kalha. Garden St. Sweifieh.
Al Thawaq Sandwiches. 1st Circle, Behind Shoman Foundation.
Al Waha. Garden St. Tel. 843734.
Al Quds. Downtown. Tel. 630168.
Reem Shawerma. 2nd Circle.
Al-Sahn Al-Dimashqi. Shmeisani.
Al Bustan. Jordan University St. Tel. 661555.
Ana Amman. Near Roman Amphitheatre. Tel. 787833.
Ata Ali. Eastern Desserts. Shmeisani. Tel. 668682.
Abu Ahmad. Jebel Amman. Tel. 641879.
Darotel. Shmeisani. Tel. 607193.
Jabri. Shmeisani. Tel. 688111.
Al Mansaf. Marriott Hotel. Shmeisani. Tel. 607607.
Al Zuwadeh. Middle Eastern Food. Fuheis. Tel. 720677.
Kan Zaman. Al Yadoudeh, near Queen Alia Airport. Tel. 08-591428/08-59148.

Formal Lunches and Dinners

Continental Whispers. Between 5th and 6th Circle. Tel. 827850.
Amigo Nabeel. Jebel Amman. Tel. 638031.
Carrousel. Abdoun. Tel. 822425.
Al Madafa. Regency Palace. Tel. 607000.
Italian Turino. Sweifieh. Tel. 863944.
Romero. Jebel Amman. Third Circle. Tel. 644227.
La Dolce Vita. Past Philadelphia Hotel. near 3rd Circle. Tel. 659520.
Alfredo. Mecca St. Tel. 821705.
Leonardo Da Vinci. Shmeisani. Tel. 662441/606281.
Castello. Jebel Amman. Tel. 653100.
French Chez Simon. Al Rabiya Housing. Tel. 690910.
Spanish Bonita. Third Circle. Tel. 615060.
Turkish. 6th Circle. Tel. 816880.
Mexican Mama Januita. Hotel Intercontinental Third Circle. Tel. 641361.
Indian Bukhara. Hotel Intercontinental. Tel. 641361.
Indian Restaurant. 8th Circle. Tel. 819829.
Greek Corfu. Shmeisani. Tel. 695308/680185.
Oriental and Chinese Restaurant China. Rainbow St. 1st Circle. Tel. 638968.
China House. Jebel Al-Hussein. Tel. 693004.
Peking. Shmeisani. Tel. 660250/660258.
Chen. Tla'Al Ali. Tel. 818241.
Tokyo Gardens. Mecca St. Tel. 812997.
Taiwan Tourismo. Jebel Amman. Opp. Akilah Hospital. Tel. 641093.
Szechwan Gardens. Um Uthania. Tel. 861174.
Jengizghan. 2nd Circle. Tel. 658850/1.
China Town. Forte Grand Hotel. Tel. 696511.

Evenings out on town

The Cotton Club. Tokyo Gardens, Mecca St. Tel. 812997.
Cellar. Al Qaser Hotel. Tel. 689671/2. 666140.
Cavalier. L'Olivier Rest, Abdoun, near Orthodox Club. Tel. 819564.
Scandals. San Rock Hotel. Tel. 813800/7.
Graffiti. Shepherd Hotel, between 2nd and 3rd Circles. Tel. 642401, 639197/8.
Jugglers. Forte Grand Hotel Shmeisani. Tel. 696511.
Vis-A-Vis. Turino Rest. Sweifieh. Tel. 836944.
Dolphin Pub. Abdoun. Tel. 822425.
Irish Pub. Dove Hotel. Tel. 697601/2. Intercontinental Bar. Intercontinental Jordan 3rd Circle. Tel. 641361.
Kan Zaman. Airport Road Al Yadoudeh. Tel. 08-591428.
Alf Layleh Wa Layleh. Forte Grand Shmeisani. Tel. 696511.
Salute Ville D'Angelo. Tel. 638212.
Al Andalus Club. Jerusalem Hotel. Tel. 607121.
Al Alali Club. Regency Palace. Tel. 607000.


Shopping

Household Goods

Safeway. Shmeisani, near Sports City Circle. Tel. 685311 (open 24 hours).
Ahlia-Abela Superstore. Shmeisani. Tel. 688471.C-Town. 7th Circle. Tel. 814129.
Al Fareed Shopping Centre. Abdali, Amman Trade Complex. Tel. 698059.

Perfumes

Abu Shaqra. Waldi El Seer. Tel. 818173.
Gifts Corner. Um Utheina. Tel. 811404. Jebal Al Hussein, Sweiss Building. Tel. 829920.
Qweider. Shmeisani. Tel. 695049.
Al Majal. Mecca St. Tel. 820477.
Astra. 1st Circle opp. the Islamic School. Tel. 824301.

Chocolate

Eibech. Jebel Weibdeh. Tel. 636537.
Patchi. Jebel Al Hussein, Mu'asher Building. Tel. 619599.
Jebel Amman, 3rd Circle, Prince Moh'd St. Tel. 641880.
Bousheyh. Mecca St. Tel. 821409. Gardens St. Tel. 695211.
Kattan. Jebel Amman, 7th Circle. Tel. 825423.

Jewellery

You can find tens of jewellery shops in Amman's Downtown ``Gold Market''.
Kuzbar. 5th Circle. Tel. 813646.
Fanous. Shmeisani. Tel. 697730.
Shawkat Shami. Um Utheina. Tel. 864902.
Al Kayali. Downtown. Tel. 627160.
Dajani. Amra Hotel. Tel. 827118.

Traditional Jordanian Gifts

Andalusia. Mecca St. Jaber Complex. Tel. 824425.
Al Khayam Oriental Bazaar. Weibdeh. Tel. 623927.
Bani Hamida. Jebel Amman. Tel. 658696.
Bawadi Rugs and Ceramics. Queen Alia Fund for Social Development. Medina Munawara St. Tel. 825241.
Bazaar Al Shami. Weibdeh, Jebel Amman Downtown. Tel. 623287.
Bazaar Al Afghani. Downtown, near Al Hussein mosque. Tel. 625992.
Jebel Al Hussein. Tel. 676670. Jebel Weibdeh. Tel. 611673.
Burqan. Jebel Amman, 2nd Circle. Tel. 652585.
The Gallery. Intercontinental Hotel. Tel. 641361.
Jordan Craft Centre. Jebel Amman near Intercontinental. Hotel. Tel. 644555.
Jordan River Designs. Weibdeh Jebel Amman Downtown. Tel. 613081.
Ruwaq Al Balqa', Fuheis City. Tel. 720677.
Kan Zaman. Kan Zaman, Tourist Village, off Airport Rd. Tel. 736449.
Jordan Design & Trade Centre (Noor Al Hussein Foundation) Shmeisani, near King Abdullah Gardens. Tel. 699141.
Al Khazna. Sweifieh. Tel. 818262.
Silsal Ceramics. Jebel Amman. Tel. 680128.
Society for Development & Rehabilitation of Rural Women. Sweifieh. Tel. 813552.

Useful Numbers

Car Hire: Hertz, Middle East Hotel, Tel. 668958
Europcar, Marriott, Tel. 601350, Forte Grand, Tel. 696511, Regency Palace, Tel. 601360
Budget, Smeisani, Tel. 698131
Ministry of Tourism, Tel. 642311
Hotel Complaints, Tel. 605800
Price Complaints, Tel. 661176
Public Transport Complaints, Tel. 656400
Post Office Information, Tel. 121
Police, Tel. 192
First Aid, Tel. 193

Diplomatic Missions

Australian 673246/7
Austrian 644635
Belgian 675683
Bulgarian 699391
Canadian 666124
Chilean 814263
Cyprus 677559
Czech 665105
Danish 603703
Finnish 824654
French 641273/4
German 689351
Greek 672331/2
Hungarian 815614
Indian 637262
Italian 638185
Irish 630878
Israeli 696511
Japanese 671428
Yugoslavian 665107
Dutch 637967
Indonesian 828911
North Korean 666349
Norwegian 644932
Pakistani 622787
Chinese 699137
Philippines 827001
Polish 637153
Romanian 667738
South Korean 660745
Spanish 614166
Swedish 669177
Swiss 686416
Turkish 641251
United Kingdom 823100
United States of America 820101
Russian 641158
Delegation of the EEC 668192
UNDP 668171
UNRWA 826171
Taiwan 671530
UNICEF 629571
Sri Lanka 645311
Iceland 698851