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.

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!

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. 

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. 

Another cake shop in Amman: The Cakery

It's my friend's birthday on saturday and I told her I would get the cake. I thought for a while where to get it from and remembered I saw a shop in Abdoun that seemed to be just perfect: The Cakery. Obviously I can't talk about the cake, because I know she'll read this... but I can certainly show you a couple of pictures of the place. They make big cakes and lovely pastries, jams, marmalades and macarons, as well as some savoury things like salmon roulade, quiches and finger foods. They caterer for parties or meetings.

Shop in Abdoun

I love macarons. However, I didn't get to taste theirs! I bought just one, pistachio flavour, and Bibs ate it all! It's a meringue based cookie with a cream inside, usually small and round. It comes in several flavours - the cakery has them in: chocolate, coffee caramel, vanilla, pistachio, green tea, mango, rose petal and raspberry. The don't look of much, but they are very difficult to make. I have looked at the recipe I don't know how many times and given up before I even started. My favourite macarons come from the Parisian pastry shop Laduree. Thanks to Bibs I have  a valid reason to go back to the shop very fast. Box of 18 is sold for 14JD.

Macarons...

Pastries

Some of their cakes

Some prices....

Cookies: from 7JD / 500g

Tarts and cakes: from 20JD (12-14 pers)

Bites (sweet and savoury): 0.45JD/piece

Special orders: from 30JD 

I'll share a picture of the birthday cake, I really love it!
Location updated on my map, link at the bottom of the page.

Olives - The Book, The Blog

I don't have much energy today... busy busy with the first IWAA meeting this morning, which was a success and I will blog about it, maybe tomorrow when the energy is back - then play time this afternoon with the kids at cutie town  - an indoor playground which also needs a post.

But even without energy I had to log on to my blog to see if there was a new post on this blog: Olives. I am completely absorbed by it! I need to get myself the book so I can read it - unfortunately the author has not been able to publish in Jordan... but you can also read about that on his blog. The story takes place in Jordan and each post starts with a passage of the book.

Am sure you will love it!

http://www.olivesthebook.com/

I hope you all have a great start to your week-end.

This morning's taxi ride

"Where are you from?" is such a standard question here in Jordan. I have already written about it (click here) and my first post about this question is a couple of years old. I have gone back to saying am from Denmark, because that's where I come from and I have decided I have no reason really not to say the truth.

I loved this morning small talk with the taxi driver and it started of course with "Where are you from?"...

It went like this:

Taxi driver: where are you from? America?
Me: no...
Taxi driver: England?
Me: no... I am from Denmark
Taxi driver: Ahhh! ...silence... It's very warm in the car no?
Me: yes, a bit (it must have been 35 degrees in there - and only 6 outside)
The Taxi driver opens the window
Taxi driver: more silence... and says: Too much milk!
Me: What do you mean too much milk?
Taxi driver: Too much milk in Denmark, too many cows!

I laughed so much! I thought it was sweet and funny at the same time. He obviously sat that and wondered what he could say about Denmark - where the cows come from I have no idea.

He lightened my day because it's raining again. A lot.

My missing shopping bag

Have you ever wondered what happens if one of your bags goes missing at the supermarket? Well today I found out.

Weekly shopping at Cozmo today - I really go less and less to that shop, mainly because I find going to Spinneys much more convenient and it's closer to home. Today however I decided to go because I wanted to buy some of the Cow Gate cereals for Bobsy - I didn't get any because they were all expired, hmmm expired baby food? - well anyway, I get to the check out and one of the guys help me and empties the cart and for once actually listens to me when I tell him food items first. Another guy packs my shopping, with too many plastic bags, as usual, and he laughs because I repack after him and I give him some empty bags back.

With all this I forget a bag. Of all bags it had to be the baby wipes - nearly 9 JD worth of baby wipes - I know a bloody rip off. So I get home and realise that the bag is missing. I need the things so drive all the way back to Cozmo, not really believing that I will get my wipes without paying for them again.

Well, I was wrong. I go to the "customer services" counter and tell the guy behind it my little story about my missing bag, showing him my receipt. Surprise, surprise... out comes a big black notebook, he looks under today's date and says "yes madam we have them". I was stunned. Seriously, I was so surprised. Jordanian efficiency? Something new.

A piece of cake

A year ago I had to drive all the way to City Mall to get some cake from Paul's. But that changed around Ramadan last year - some guy had the brilliant idea to open a shop in Abdoun. Life changed.

I'll go and take pics one day of the actual cafe in Abdoun, but I couldn't resist sharing today's cakes. I didn't eat them all by myself and even kept de coffee eclair for Bobs. Maybe he would have preferred the mille-feuille, but that one was too good looking! And as we say in French, absentees are also wrong!

Above... Strawberry tart, raspberry tart, lemon tart (definitely one of my favourites), banana and chocolate cake (for the kiddies, but the mummies loved it as well), strawberry mille-feuilles and the coffee eclair. Which one do you prefer?!

If you want to indulge, looking for some comfort, or simply have a sweet tooth like me and any occasion is  good for cake-time  (today lunch with a couple of mummy-friends) go to Paul. In my opnion, their pastries are the best in town. 

And because Bobs is still not home, I might just go and suck out a bit of cream of that coffee eclair! 

The donkey-man

In West Amman, we have...

... nice cars...

... and huge houses...

large hotels...

Sheraton Hotel

Then we have sheep and goats...

...and also the Donkey-man.

thx my norwegian friend for this pic :)

I love the contrasts of Amman.

A little post about medical

So came then day when I got mastitis. Am breastfeeding Bobsy and it just came out of the blue! For those who don't know what mastitis is, it's a breast infection and to say it hurts is an understatement. I am not the kind of person who runs to the doc because of a cough or a fever - but this time there was simply no way around it. And let's say it as it is: as long as you pay (or your insurance does) there is no problem and they are very thorough.

There is a street between 4th and 3rd circles: it's a doctor's street. Only doctors, hospitals, clinics of all kinds. and it's a long street! So I got an appointment with a general physician and off I went to the dreaded doctor. There is a reason why I don't go to doctors: I don't like them. I don't like them and their white overall. He was ok though - there was only a doctor part. Either he forgot the white thing at home or he doesn't like it either.

And this is what happens when you go private here: the doctor checks on you and then picks up the phone to his very good acquaintance who happens to be the head of the x-ray department of the hospital within walking distance. I get to the hospital, find the x-ray department and the receptionist that goes with it, wait for a little while and get to register, pay 30JD at the "accounting department", also called a cashier, and the head of the x-ray department is already waiting for me.

All in all I spent maybe 30 minutes at the hospital and that includes a good 5 minutes in finding the right department, at least 5 minutes to pay at the cashier and 10 minutes at the pharmacy to get the antibiotics. And this is good, because if there is one thing I dislike even more than doctors: it's hospitals. And dentists, but that's another story.

I have had a couple of other experiences with hospitals here in Jordan and it has been like that: very effective really. That is if you pay and go to the right doctors. Of course. I wonder how long one should wait in Europe to get an x-ray done at a hospital.

They can get a little overzealous as well: the doctor wanted me to get intravenous antibiotics. I told him that I was sure the oral ones were fine!

Another example is the kids' paediatrician. When I went to the hospital to give birth I was asked who my paediatrician was. I gave the name and I was so surprised when I saw her 2 hours after Bobsy was born for a complete check up. If you don't have one, of course the hospital do the check ups, but otherwise your own one comes. She came twice in 24 hours (because I am a bit hardcore and left the hospital the day after) - so she came the next day just to see him. Of course you pay for all this, but it's not that expensive. I think we paid her 70JD for both visits and the second visit was friday morning, so technically her weekend day. I have her mobile number and can call her 24/7. That kind of service simply does not exist in Europe in my experience, even if you pay for it.

Jordan is trying to become (or is becoming?) a medical tourism destination and I think it probably has the best medical in the region. People are coming from neighbouring countries to Jordan. The prices are very competitive compared to Europe and the service really much much better. 

IWAA - International Women's Association Amman

The IWAA, The International Women's Association Amman will hold its first meeting at the Sheraton Hotel (5th Circle) on thursday 2nd February at 10am and after that on every first thursday of the month.

"The aim of the IWAA is to provide a connection point for new comers to the city with emphasis on those ladies that may only be here for a short time, to enable them to integrate into their new lives as quickly as possible, through meeting people, being able to access information and join established groups and activities.  IWAA meetings will be on every first Thursday of the month, and will provide a venue for women to meet and network, connecting with friends new and old, and join activities and events that they find interesting" says Sue, the founder of IWAA. The Facebook page is up an running already, IWAA Facebook.

The first guest speaker is Jane Taylor, famous photographer and writer. Jane has lived in Jordan since 1989 and has recently published her 5th book on Jordan: "Beyond the Jordan".

I am really excited about this association. I found it a bit difficult to find my way around town when I first arrived in Amman and if it hadn't been for the Danish Embassy and one of its staff I wouldn't have settled in so fast or so well: that's why I created this blog to start with - after that I discovered that I actually liked blogging, but that's something else... So yes very excited indeed, because I feel there is a real need for this association. 

IWAA   International Women’s Association Amman

The International Women’s Association Amman cordially invites you to the first monthly meeting on

Thursday 2nd February 2012 The Sheraton Hotel from 10am

 Guest Speaker:  Jane Taylor 

 "Flying on the wings of the wind... dancing on the earth". 

Another year has gone by...

... and today marks the second anniversary of our arrival in Amman. Like last year, today is a rainy day, there has even been some snow in the air. Like last year Jordan needs the water desperately.

Of course the arrival of our little Bobsy was the highlight of 2011! When we found out we were pregnant, we talked a lot about where I would deliver - should I stay here, go back to Europe? After talking a bit to friends here and there, I decided that staying here was the best for all of us. It wouldn't have been fair on Bibs to take her away from her daddy, her friends and playgroups when her life was going to change so much already. It must be a little traumatising to suddenly have to share mum and dad! However Bibs loves her little brother - cuddles and kisses him all day long. Wouldn't have been fair on the daddy either for that matter. Anyway, I started to look for an obstetrician and found a really nice one, I trusted him immediately. The great thing here is that the obstetrician does also the ultrasounds, so unlike in Europe, you get to see your little bean grow every time you have an appointment. I have not one bad thing to say about my experience, a part from the fact that there are 2 rates when you go to the doctor here: one for the Jordanians and one for the expats! I delivered at Farah Hospital which really reminds one more of a hotel with its single rooms, suites and even royal suite (2 bedrooms and a huge reception area! I just visited it, didn't "stay" there!). Of course a delivery room is what it is, but you do have the most amazing view over Amman - so while I was laying there and wondering why oh why I had said "no" to the epidural, I was also admiring the sunrise over Amman.

The View from my room @ Farah Hospital

And we got flowers and flowers and more balloons, here are a few! A speciality here. 

And our Bobsy was born and now I can't remember what life was before he joined us.

The Arab Spring came and went (while the storm still blows in Syria and Yemen) and Jordan, well,  I guess remained the same. I never felt the protests and never thought that it could become a problem. Business in Jordan was hit though - tourism declined as western tourists chose other destinations, one  Prime Minister succeeded the other and Amman's former mayor got released this morning after one month's detention over corruption allegations - bail: 300'000 JD, rich mayor. 

When I re-read last years post, One year in Amman!, nothing much have changed: I still like the same things and the things I didn't enjoy as much, well to be honest I like them even less now - but I have decided not to get upset anymore by unconscious drivers (private or taxi drivers, male or female, Jordanians or expats) or by male chauvinistic behaviours! Kind of New Year resolution. 

We still have many things to do here in Jordan, I can't believe we haven't made it to Aqaba yet and I would love to go to Wadi Rum - but life with a tiny one is not always easy to plan! So here is to more time in an amazing country. 

Play-date morning at J'Imagine

J'imagine is the name of a indoor play area, it opened a few months back. Bibs and her friends absolutely love going there.

As every thing in Amman, you need to find it first. It is located on Princess Basma street in Abdoun, on the first floor of a bank building (opposite MyGym, another indoor play area, if that helps!) - I have updated my map so you can find it there as well. I think I drove past it 10 times before i finally saw a small tiny sign in one of the windows. There is a empty land next to it where you can park. The entrance is 8JD (in my opinion a bit too much) and the kids get access to a little world full of pretend areas, a toddler heaven, an arts and crafts activity room as well a room with sand and water tables (a favorite!).

I really like the set up of the place and it is safe - the kiddies can run around and play.

PRETEND CITY... It's lovely really. All possible costumes, followed by a kitchen, a supermarket, a vet, a little nursery just to name a few.

This is the water table where the kids can fish, as you can see there are small fountains. There is also a sand pit. 

Then the toddler area - only for the small ones under 3. Bibs and Bobsy love it in there - so much to play with - even though most of the things we have at home or very similar! - But toys are like food in a toddlers world... always more interesting when not at home.

And because they think about the kids but also the parents - there is a nice cafe. A little selection of coffees and cakes, water, flavoured milk and small snack bags. I love the snack bags, it's a brilliant idea: a few smarties, some biscuits, raisins and dry apricots along with a few light salted items.

Cafe Counter: Notice the small snack bags.  

They host birthday parties so better check with them before you go.I think that Bibs and her friend could have stayed all day. The mummies as well, if only they would offer a free coffee refill...

Ah I nearly forgot, the arts and crafts... I have to share my daughters piece of art! Brought home for her daddy of course - yes, she is still daddy's girl!