Through valleys and mountains

November 20, 2006 at 7:07 pm · Filed under Amman, Roba

Our day started in the heart of Jabal Il-Weibdeh, in the courtyard of Darat Al-Funun. We had mana2eesh and tea for breakfast, and then headed out to spend the day taking pictures and videos in il-balad, downtown Amman. From that corner atop of the mountain, we went down the stairs of Mujama3 il Fuheis and into the sites, sounds and smells of Amman’s first streets.

We walked past Al-Quds restaurant, Jabri, and the headquarters of the Islamic Brotherhood. We went through Souq Il Bukhareyeh, discussed the minarets of The Husseini Mosque, and bought some peanuts from Abu Il Abed. We remembered Napoleon (not the historical figure), laughed at our inability to cross streets, and got pissed off at all the comments thrown left and right (at least I got pissed off).

We walked until we almost reached Ras Al-Ein, and as we didn’t want to go all the way back, we decided to take the stairs against the mountain, and right into the arms of Jabal Amman. We climbed countless numbers of stairs; small and big, tall and stocky, through alleyways and through buildings. We all agreed that Amman should be called the city of a thousand stairs.

All the climbed steps eventually led us to Wild Jordan, where we had lunch and waffles. Then we picked up our cameras and headed towards Rainbow Street, with its many colors. We discussed our political views as we passed by the Jordanian Communist Party, we expressed our love for Battata and falafel Al-Quds, and remembered all our childhood memories in Abu Al-Dahab center.

Finally, we reached the First Circle, where we stopped a cab, and went back to Jabal Al-Weibdeh, where we started.

For more on the trip and more (unphotoshopped) pictures, check out Super Devoika’s blog.



Where we had breakfast in
Darat Al-Funun


The stairs from Weibdeh to Il Balad


One day try your luck


Abu Il Abed, the peanut seller, has been selling peanuts
in this exact spot for the past half century.


Hold my hand


Il Balad from a balcony


Inside one of the old houses in Il Balad


Walking through downtown Amman


Climbing up the stairs from el-Balad to Jabal Amman


Garage for Rent


More stairs


Wild Jordan from below

At the end of the day:
hmm 217






  • http://www.arabesquerhabsody.com/blog Ohoud

    Leish haik 3amleh bel sowar:(

  • http://andfaraway.net Roba

    Ohoud, I like it :) If you want any of the pictures in their original form, let me know and I’ll email it to you.

  • Nick

    What an interesting day – some of my very favourite places in the city. I had no idea that guy who sells peanuts had been there that long, incredible.

    Is all the overexposure intended or is your camera freaking out? Either way it looks great, like scenes from a dream.

  • http://altapatio.blogspot.com eltapatio

    wow. I love this post. with all the pictures in it, it reminded me of the days my friends and I used to go for long walks. the picture taken from jebel el weibdeh looks like it was taken from the hill infront of the high school I went to (dirar bin alazwar). I have seen abu el 3abid selling peanuts everytime I passed by souq el dahab. this guy has a great work ethic. great post and pictures roba.

  • http://laithz.jeeran.com/ Laith Zraikat

    Nice photos, nice effects, cool blog header!

  • Luai

    Nice pictures. I think I almost drove down that stairway! Is that anywhere near Books@? And how much are the lottery tickets? What is the prize?

  • http://healingiraq.blogspot.com Zeyad

    You should have had Mansaf for lunch at Al-Quds restaurant.

    Nice photo effects. Almost like scenes out of a dream or something.

  • http://nasimjo.blogspot.com nasimjo

    agree with ziad regarding the Mansaf @ Al-Quds. his Bamye is good too..

  • kinzi

    It’s been years since I looked at downtown this way…Roba, I want a personal tour!

  • http://www.muoffaq.qabbani.net MQabbani

    hi..
    the stairs from Weibdeh to Balad theres too staries
    the first one near the mosaic gallary up get u down to Daret al fen St.
    the secound adjacency to Dart al fen get u down to the St. up al balad , .. long time i didt go there …
    u just reminde me used to go there every day …

    nice post : ) and Pic too , may i copy it ??
    Muoffaq Al Qabbani

  • http://darkfalafel.blogspot.com Yazan

    Walking through the old downtown amman is by itself a spiritual experience.

  • http://www.fbtribe.com UmZayd

    Thanks Roba for taking us on a Amman excursion. I felt like I was there. I only have been to some of the places you mentioned on the 4 or 5 visits to Amman but will make sure I do the others too. The pictures and effects are nice too! Great post!

  • http://je-suis-ici.blogspot.com Ha Ana Za

    I love the photos! It makes it look so magical…something out of a dream. Jeez! I never thought I’d be saying that about Amman ;)

  • http://reflectupon.blogspot.com super devoika

    [Roba must be one of the blogs that I read most often [....]

  • http://www.diasporicdiscontents.blogspot.com Carmen

    Those are AWESOME pictures!

  • http://www.waleg.com Hana

    Oh! My God! Abou El Abed! … he is still down there!
    Wow! You’re right, he’s been there for the past 50 years!

  • ramez almualla

    Hi,
    my name is ramez almualla,and I was looking at your beautiful pictures of beautiful Amman, and as I was going throw the pictures,I saw the peanut seller picture down town Amman….
    my roommates rushed in to my room to see what happened ……I was like OH MY GOD…NO WAAAAY…….you have no idea how many times I saw that guy ,every time I went to down town Amman……….but now its been 6 years since my last trip back home …well thank you again for that picture ,you brought so many memory ….
    (1)P.S. when my roommates asked me why I was screaming …I explained to them and they all say hi…….
    (2)P.S. I sent this comment to your e-mail,but it give me an error..and you all guys look hot by the way…….
    best regards,
    ramez almualla
    Berkeley,CA

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