A walk through the park

The park across the street is a square block of green grass, gazebos and playground equipment in a city where most open space is being filled with large, air-conditioned spaces like high-rise apartment buildings and malls. This particular park is manned by a small army of green-jumpsuited workers who keep the paths swept, the trash off the ground, the fountains bubbling, the light fixtures painted and the grass green (no small feat when it's 105 and bone dry).

K and I walked through the park for the first time this morning because 1) it was dry, not humid, 2) it has been a long time since I've been outside willingly and 3) the park has been filling up in the evenings, after being utterly deserted day and night for the first three weeks we were here. Probably because of the break in the humidity. It's been nice to hear children shouting with delight and adults laughing alongside the typical honking and brakes screeching of city life.

These are pictures of the area around my apartment and the Khalidiya Childrens Park. It costs 1 dirham (36.5 cents) to get in and only families and ladies (ie: women) are allowed. There was no one at the entrance booth to take our money today, so we got in for free. Note my apartment building in the background of the first pic.

Planning a trip to Jordan? One of my students wrote in their intro letter: "I also love going to Petra with its dazzling sites, nerve-racking climbs on donkey back with drops to certain death, and the ascent to ancient tombs." What more do you need in a vacation?