Day 13 and 14: Lazy days and long walks…

Place: Salome Hotel, Outside veranda, 15 April, 5:37pm

Thought for the day: ”If there are a lot of very old people in a town and they look healthy and happy – do exactly what they do.”

We have slowed right down and become accustomed to the slow pace at which Madaba seems to operate. From the way they walk, drive and sit outside their little shops and restaurants – everything just seems to move along effortlessly and without purpose. Yet people are happy. If Madaba was a patient in a hospital, and the doctor was listening for a pulse – he would be worried.

Okay, so you get the idea. Madaba is Dosville. But we really, really like it.

At the time of Donna’s last blog, I was out jogging into an area where we had not yet been. I eventually got out of the crowded suburb and into a sort of farm area. I ran passed a goat herder with about 100 healthy goats. The stench was amazing! Not sure if it was the goats that smelt so horrendous or the Bedouin that was looking after them. He looked like he had slept underneath a goat so it may well have been him.

The houses in this area are terrific and very well finished. There is a definite Jordan style which is preferred and prevalent in most areas. These were just on a grander scale.

Friday night we chilled at the hotel and watched our second movie for the day and then lights off for some much needed shut eye. But the floor we were on was so flippen busy and noisy that neither of us could sleep and eventually we decided to watch our 3^rd movie of the day – The Notebook. We eventually got to sleep around 2am.

Due to the late night we slept in and ambled to breakfast around 9:30am. And then back to the room to watch another movie. After which we went to our local Ayola café for a coffee al fresco. 

This led to an aimless stroll in the old town after which our stomachs steered us towards our favourite bakery for pita bread. Across the road is a place called Laurina – which has an Arabic sign outside. We have walked passed this shop about 20 times and when purposefully looking for it couldn’t find it for about 15mins. They have the best hummus we have tasted in Jordan – but still not as good as Taboullah in Cairo. We bought some falafel and some sauce and then back to the hotel for supper. This supper cost us R15. Such a win – and much better than peanut butter rolls for supper. Another tip for travellers – eat where the locals eat. Unless the locals are rich.

We had a great sleep last night and a good breakfast this morning of scrambled egg, crumpets and plum jam. Then I showed Donna the area where we ran and we met the oke that sleeps under/herds the goats. A very nice guy who allowed us to take photos with him and his goats.

It is easter Sunday today and the town was bustling. All the people that celebrated easter ahd closed their shops. The muslim man is smart – his shop stays open so that he can sell easter eggs.  

We visited the Madaba Archeological park where we saw mosaics from the Byzantine era around 500ad. Flippen interesting. There is one of Adonis and Aphrodite sitting together and she is chasing away a young Eros. There are also personifications of Rome, Georgia and Madaba. Hunting scenes etc. Although this history lesson was capturing, our stomachs and blood sugar got the better of us. We bought some grilled chicken strips and salad and headed home for lunch.

This turned into a movie and a siesta.

We are going jogging now and then maybe a walk into town later to buy some Turkish delight – our stash has taken a hammering.

Tomorrow we will leave early in the morning for the Israeli border near the Dead Sea. Hopefully we will get in and then go straight to Jerusalem.