My last sunrise.

Goodbye 'Amman

Better Mommies

A last one before we leave tomorrow... Was at Bibs and Bobsy's pediatrician and saw this flyer. I haven't checked it out obviously, but worth having a look at.

A last cup of coffee and a goodbye

Sorry! I have about 10 unfinished posts and time has just been lacking. Suddenly when we came back from Thailand everything went really fast. The email, the phone call and 2 months later we are off, on our way to new adventures.

When you leave a place you suddenly realise that there are so many things you haven't done... I manage to leave Jordan without visiting Wadi Rum, haven't been to Aqaba either; my biggest regret is probably Jerusalem.

There are also all these small places that you keep discovering or being introduced to. My last cup of coffee goes to Caffè Strada on Rainbow Street. A charming small place - they serve good coffee and fab tea - my favorite brand Jing (my friends D & K will be happy to know that even after I have left they can still get their Jasmine green tea in Amman!). Their cookies are nice as well! It is located just opposite the old theater, off Rainbow street - or the first street on your right after the Saudi Embassy.

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/caffestradaamman

And so it is, Goodbye to Amman, Goodbye to Jordan. I cannot believe that we have been here for nearly 2 and a half years. Life has been good here. I have enjoyed Amman very much. I will miss my life here. And of course all my friends.

We are traveling further East this time. After a few stops on the way, we will step out of the plane in Denpasar, the capital city of Bali, Indonesia. I will start a new blog and I hope that you will take the time to read about our adventures on the small island. The four Bs in Bali - it is up and running, I just need to get writing!

Thank you Amman, for being so hospitable. I will miss you.

A little visitor

We are back from Thailand! Had an amazing time and I will be doing some picture posts. Bangkok is a fabulous city - busy but so interesting. I didn't do a tenth of the things I wanted to, but with the 2 small ones it wasn't that easy.

When we came home I opened the shutters and found a little visitor!

It kept flying away first as soon as it saw Bibs, but I hope it got used to us now and that it can nest in peace. Bibs is so excited!!

Crown Lounge at Amman Airport

I have already done a post anout Queen Alia Airport and it wasn't a really nice one. So I want to correct a little bit.

We are on the way to Bangkok (am really excited) and it's just really a shame that Royal Jordanian forgot to tell us that we were 3 hours delayed... Well anyways, now that Bobsy is finally sleeping and Bibs is nearly there, I thought I would share a couple of pictures of the lounge.

Having access to the Crown Lounge does change a little bit one's experience of Amman's Airport.

It is very spacious, with several seperated seating areas, a bar, several tv's (some are individual), a buffet which isnt that bad - they even refill on the sandwiches at 2am! There is a kids area and a billiard table.

The pictures are not the best, but I can't really move!

That's Also Amman #85 : Abdoun Bridge

Wadi Abdoun Bridge: The only of it's kind in Amman and in Jordan for that matter.

It took 4 years to build this cable stayed bridge, it opened in 2006. It links Abdoun to the 4th circle.

All about ribbons

What a busy week!

It all started with the weather. What a nightmare, okay let's put things in perspective. It only lasted a couple of days and really wasn't that bad, but when you are used to the sun shining and you see clouds too long, it gets a bit depressing. The good thing is that it reminds one how easy and nice it is to have the sun shining most of the time. Everything is so complicated when it's cold out there. Now the sun is back and so is the smile on everyones faces, including Bibs who got so bored with not being able to get outside as she wanted.

Then the city needed a clean up, as usual. Look at this tree in our street!

I can't decide what happened to it. It didn't snow that much, maybe it met a car during the snow period or something.

Then I made it downtown. I haven't been down there in ages. I went to this ribbon/everything for weddings/births and different kind of party decorations shop. I have never seen anything like it. Welcome to the world of "Ribbontex Nazzal". The shop is located in one of the small streets behind the big mosque.

Entrance to the shop

Up the stairs and this is what you get...

And Bibs' favorite: shells! 1000s of them. 

What an amazing world the one of Ribbontex Nazzal!

Bibs' favourite muffins

More snow has come. The thing I love the most about the snow (when I can't ski...) is the quiet it brings with it. It gets cosy. Hyggeligt, we call it in Danish. That's a word that only exists in Danish. It means cosy and comfortable and something welcoming. A girlfriend a meet up can be hyggelig, a house can be hyggeligt (fireplace, candles, a nice chat and a hot cup of tea). And it probably includes something to do with food as well, like lunch or dinner with friends or a good afternoon with cake.

And this weather has got me backing. Bibs is not a cake kid. So it is always a huge surprise when she actually likes one. But I thought maybe if I made baby muffins that would work. Indeed, it did.

Apple & Carrot Muffins

Recipe.

preheat oven @ 350F (180C)

makes 48 "baby" muffins

2 carrots

1 apple 

175g flour

150g sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp babking powder

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 large eggs

120ml oil (vegetable, corn, canola oil)

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Peel and finely grate the carrots and apple. 

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

In another ball whisk eggs, oil and vanilla extract. 

Fold the egg mixture and carrots & apple into the flour mixture. Don't stir too much, just until it is mixed.  

Fill up the muffin cups half so there is space for them to "grow"

I didn't check the timing really - but it's until a toothpick (or very tiny knife) comes up clear. Maybe around 15 - 20 minutes. 

Bon Appetit!

Kids playing in the snow and building a snowman - 5th Circle 

Leaving Taj Mall today... in the middle of a snow storm

Fine white cover over Amman

This is actually the most snow I have seen in 2 years!

Schools are closed and as you can see on the picture 1 car has been on our road and it's 6:30am! It's nice and quiet outside.

Amman is at a stand still.

It is actually not quite white snow we have. Because of the sandstorm we had yesterday before the snow started to fall there is a nice yellowish layer underneath... 

That's Also Amman #73

Roadworks in Amman... after we had a hole for about 4 months! We got this.

My breakfast...

I love breakfast! Can be a croissant and coffee, the full English one with bacon and beans and sausages and mushrooms. It can be an American one with pancakes.

At home, during the week, it's not that fancy... But I need my coffee, that's for sure. Coffee is one of the more expensive things here in Amman. I get mine from the Brazilian Coffee House (there is a shop in Sweifieh mall and one in City mall). I love the smell of freshly ground coffee. A lovely full bodied and yet smooth colombian one, I buy 250g for 3JD.

So this morning I had my coffee, from my old Bodum coffee presser. For the little story, it has made many many coffees in Denmark (from before I was born), then in France and now in Amman. I enjoyed my coffee with some bread I bought yesterday and my homemade strawberry jam. I love making jams it's so easy. 60% strawberries, juice from a small lemon, a dash of grenadine sirop and 40% jam sugar and that's it! Yummy!

A good baby shop and a talk about bread

Opposite the Kuwaiti embassy, on the road from the US embassy towards Dair Ghbar there is a little stretch with some shops. I have already blogged about it, that's where you find a second cup and a cactus shop (or is it cacti?!) - well I was told there was a new bakery opened and of course I had to check it out.

But before I come to that (and the lovely cookies they make) well I have to talk about Rawhi Pharmacy. You see, I have learned to go into every single pharmacy I find on my way, just to have a look at their baby stuff selection - sometimes, like today, one can have a fab discovery.

The call themselves the "One Stop Baby Shop" and yes it probably could be. On the first floor they have a huge amount of strollers and car seats - several UK and French brands (the prices are huge as well...) but the choice is there. Then sell playpens and booster seats, high chairs and bath tubs and all kind of security things (monitors, mats for the bath, shades for the car windows... etc) and the whole collection of bébé comfort (toys, plates and cutlery, baby carriers...). You can even make a wish list for the arrival of your little one. And then the best thing of my discovery... They sell "organix" products!

Amazing!

Don't get too excited, I got the 2 last pouches (2.400 JD), but I did tell the pharmacist to get more and to get other flavours.... A part from the pouches, they have teething biscuits, cereals bars, raisins... so good stuff!

So after leaving baby shop heaven, I arrive at BreadTalk, the bakery. I got a bit disappointed as I had a "no" when I asked the shop assistant if I could take pictures (that's the first time in 2 years). It's a bakery, there is nothing so special about their concept and I just wanted a couple of pics to illustrate my blog. Shame.

So a part from the not so understanding shop assistant, it's a nice place. There is a small sitting area to enjoy coffee and cake. They have lots of salty things (garlic bread is one I remember) and then they have a few different types of toasts, biscuits... and cakes. They have an open kitchen which is a nice feature, the pastry guy was making what seemed to be a yummy cake. 

this is what you get for 12JD...

This is what I bought. A carrot toast and wholegrain toast, both are very nice. Bibs loved the wholegrain one. And then the reason why I went, their biscuits: they are freshly made by hand, no additives, only good stuff. A little sweet maybe for some, but with a good cup of coffee or a lovely cuppa tea they are perfect. It's a bit expensive - the wholegrain toast is 3JD, which double the price of the supermarkets. Biscuits are 3JD as well. 

I love days like this! It's always nice to discover new places. 

That's Also Amman #246

This has always been a big question for me... What are they doing on the roof?!

That's Also Amman #49

And we got our snow!

Finally, it arrived. We already had a few warnings, without any snow falling, but overnight it timidly made its appearance! Every year it's the same story: stories about the white stuff in Jordanian Times, the population's annoyance because it doesn't come and they have stocked up on bread and water.

This morning Amman ressembled the roads in the UK on Christmas Day, very empty.

We did get a whole centimetre! Maybe.

German bakery

The day I discovered the German bakery (a long time ago) I was so happy!

Entrance of the Shop in the basement of the mall 

Danes love their "brown bread"... The shop is on the P1 level of Baraka Mall, or ABC or Storia or whatever that mall is called! It seems to change name quite often.

Besides the brown bread, they also have some really yummy small rolls with raisin, a few pastries and some other breads. The owners are absolutely lovely. I think I have met the whole family! It's very funny when a Jordanian speaks English with a German accent.

Small rolls with the raisins on the left - and the yummy brown bread on the right

Pastries, rolls....

Bretzels!

It is also possible to order cakes and other goodies. 

Bibs' dream shop ...

... Has finally opened in City Mall!

Hello Kitty is everywhere!