60 Minutes in Amman

January 9, 2010 at 11:41 pm · Filed under Amman

This Friday, I went to “60 Minutes in Amman”, a walk through the city that was was organized by the Amman Institute along with Amman’s brilliant Fast Walk group, managed by Mowaffaq Maraqa. The guest of the walk was Michael Sorkin, author of “Twenty Minutes in Manhattan”.

Amman Institute with Jordan FastWalk Group Mowaffaq Maraqa with Michael Sorkin

Honestly, I’m not an exercise person, so I mostly went to take pictures as well as listen to Michael Sorkin’s insights. I was quite beat after the two hours of walking (and the stairs were a killer), but it was a nice trip so I’m glad I went.

Amman Institute with Jordan FastWalk Group

The route was awesome, and I took a gazillion pictures (though I wouldn’t recommend going on a picture trip with a hundred people crossing Amman’s narrow alleys and streets again.) The route started from Dowar Paris, down to Basman Street, along to the Roman Amphitheatre, and up the Roman Citadel. From the Roman Citadel we crossed from Jabal Al-Hussein and back to Dowar Paris.

Amman Institute with Jordan FastWalk Group

Amman Institute with Jordan FastWalk Group

Really cool, especially since I’ve never been to the Citadel except for a Boney M concert. It’s such a gorgeous place it’s unbelievable. Really magical.

Here are my favorite images, which you can see in the slideshow below:






  • Stephen

    Looks like fun. Its a challenge to walk around Amman, I did it a lot when I was there.

    Dowar Paris. I asked a cab driver once to take me there and he insisted Paris is pronounced Baris haha and made me repeat after him the correct way to say it :)

  • http://american-in-jordan.com Dave

    Like I said, I wish I was there. But I can’t believe you’ve only been to the Citadel once before. I used to go there all the time just for some peace and quiet and to get away from things. It always makes me feel like I’m both sitting in the middle and on top of Amman at the same time.

  • http://meshx86.wordpress.com Mesh

    i lost my compass, this was on morning right ?

    feels.. dewy and refreshing

    *sigh*

  • http://farismadi.wordpress.com Faris

    why nobody told us!!!

  • Noor.D

    i have never heared of this, is there a group or a mailing list to be informed of upcoming walks?

    and what’s the goal behind it?

  • Chris

    Those little on-site flickr slideshow boxes are pretty cool. On closer inspection, TNT courier/air freight? SNL could make a funny skit outta that one!

  • http://andfaraway.net Roba

    Stephen, I know, Amman’s excessive hilliness is a disaster! :) As for the cab story, you definietly can’t say “Paree” :P I can imagine a cab driver freaking out over that!

    Dave, how could you possibly relax there with a million trouble makers spending their evenings there to annoy others? It is very pictersque… but Amman’s constricted youth makes good youth of it :)

    Mesh, it was from 3:00 till 5:30 PM. It was nice :)

    Faris, here’s there facebook group if you enjoy death by walking: http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=fastwalk+group&init=quick#/group.php?gid=18858233424&ref=search&sid=517138977.2530794741..1 :)

    Noor.D: http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=fastwalk+group&init=quick#/group.php?gid=18858233424&ref=search&sid=517138977.2530794741..1
    The only goal behind it I believe is to walk! :)

    Chris, thank god someone said something about the TNT doorway art. It was my favorite image. Hilarious! It’s not often that you see such cultural assimilation in Amman, everything is usually much neater, but I guess downtown is a different case. The hilarious sign made from TNT parcels is just awesome.

  • http://nynotions.blogspot.com Sandra

    Lovely images in the slideshow :)

  • http://blog.vickiboykis.com Vicki

    Roba, this looks so awesome! Even more thumbs up for the Boney M. Reference. :) Since today is National Delurker Day, I’m coming out to tell you that I love your blog (especially your header) and all of the goodies within :)

  • http://andfaraway.net Roba

    Sandra, thanks! :)

    Vicki, thanks :) I’m flattered that you like it! I wasn’t aware that today is Delurking day, that’s cool though. I guess I need to do some delurking myself :) And the Boney M. concert at the Citadel was awesome!