. OnHiatus.com > Journal 1 > Day Index > Journal Entry: April 14, 1998

Tuesday, April 14, 1998
Jerusalem, Israel to Amman, Jordan
Israel's FlagJordan's FlagWest Bank's Flag

Map
Amman, Jordan:
Latitude: 31° 57' 8" North
Longitude: 35° 55' 54" East
Altitude: 2633 feet
From Seattle: 8425 miles
Lodging: Hotel - Vinice

Map
Today's Travel:
Countries: Israel, Jordan
Regions: West Bank, Greater Amman
Route: Bus: Jerusalem - near Allenby Bridge, Taxi to Border, Bus: Border Crossing, Service Taxi: Border - Amman
Start: Jerusalem, Israel
Stop 1. Allenby Bridge, Isreal
Stop 2. Jisr al-Malek al-Hussein
End:Amman, Jordan
Linear:43 miles
Weather: Sunny

Click on map to Zoom in...
Map
Trip Stats to Date:
Day: 369
Linear Dist: 97396
Countries Visited: 31
Regions Visited: 118
More stats...
Hotels: 77
Friends / Family: 98
Camping: 38
Hostels: 124
Transit: 32
Beers: 1466
Hide...

Journal Entry:
The day from hell. The plan was to catch a service taxi to the border, take the bus accross, and catch a service taxi to Amman. It should have been easy, the reverse took me less than two hours on my way to Jerusalem. Unfortunately it didn't work that way. I found a service taxi for 30 NIS (~US$8), about 50 percent more than I thought it should cost. The driver told me to wait until he had more passangers, whcih should be about 10 minutes. An hour later I decided I should take the bus, which would be cheaper anyway. I start out walking to the bus station, looking for a cab (it was more than 100° F).

None of the taxis will take me because they think they can get better fares since there are so many tourist still in town. After 45 minutes hiking in the heat I find a cab willing to take my money (I've really developed a dislike for Israeli manners - or lack therof). I get to the bus station and buy a ticket for the bus leaving in 30 minutes (18 NIS, ~US$5). I get on the bus, I ride for a bit, and I get off the bus. What the tour guide neglects to tell you is that the bus drops you off in front of the bridge compound, but that the military will not let you walk through the compount'd and the only thing they'll let you do at that point is take a cab - which costs 20 NIS (another strike for the Lonely Planet Middle East book). So with the two cab fares and the bus fare the cost ended up being 48 NIS. Then I had to deal with the border crossing (about 90 minutes - mostly waiting for the bus).

Once I got across the border everything went pretty much as planned. Only six hours from Jerusalem. My plan was to catch another bus in Amman and head for Wadi Mousa (Petra), unfortunately due to the extra hours involved it was too late so here I am for a night in Amman. Petra tomorrow!


Related Sites:
CNN: Current Weather in Amman
US State Department Consular Information Sheets: Jordan
CIA World Fact Book: Jordan

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