I've been to dozens of major cities in the States, but none that have the sort of vibes that Amman has! This photo, which was taken at the hotel we stayed in when we first arrived, gives an idea of the massive urban sprawl here. The buildings are packed in tight, and it is rare to see folks out walking around. Of course, that did not stop us from doing it anyhow!
The first week or two here we made it a point to wander around a bit. The culture, architecture, and plant life are all new to me here in Jordan.
A baby olive tree
Sure, I've seen palm trees and a variety of desert shrubs in my day. The lush plant life here is a marvel to me though, almost as much as the casually planted olive trees are. Ordinary olives? The idea is foreign to me, no pun intended.
Another thing I've admired here are the murals. Particularly around tourist areas you will see a lot of awesome art painted on the walls in Amman.
Usually I just admire them, but there was something about this peacock that made me want to snap a photo. Aren't the details on this piece lovely? I'm in constant awe of the patience that artists have.
There are also a lot of cool awnings here. During the day it seems like the sun is trying to hurt you, it reminds me of the Mario level with the really angry sunshine in it. Since I am genetically dispositioned to burn to a crisp, these are a total life saver for me when traveling during the day.
Walking at night not only is safer for this pale gal, it also gave me an opportunity to try my hand at night photography. Sadly, most of the detailed shots I tried to capture were a blurry mess when I uploaded them to the computer. My adventure to get better at photography continues.
It seems like capturing illuminated buildings is simple, but focusing in on shadows and small details is much more difficult. If anyone has tips on shooting at night they would be very welcome!
Now, let's switch back to daytime, where I am still bad at photography but in a passible way!
This tree near our apartment has become significant to us. The first time we passed it I had to stop and admire its foliage. I think it's fantastic that so many types of fir trees thrive in this climate!
Since then, it has become a tradition to touch the tree when we walk past it. So much so in fact, that if Yaz does not touch the tree I stop and pout until he does. Now one twig on it is droopy, evidence of the goofy inside jokes we share together.
Not too far off is this ivy-covered building. I really like the way the ivy frames the shape of the windows, highlighting the standard metal bars and rounded shape.
The little details of the buildings here bring me a lot of joy. I'm used to everything looking very similar, not in a post-communism way, but more in a suburban camouflage way. In Ohio, where I am from, you'd be hard pressed to differentiate apartments buildings by anything other than location.
The more I look around, the more small gems I find in my neighborhood.
This lion seems to be laughing. Is he smirking at the notion that this wrought iron gate can keep him in? Or has the horse above him told some sort of joke?
Something about this galloping horse feels out of place, but I still like it. Maybe the absurdity of how it is carved is what makes the lion laugh.
Surrounding it are plant covered patios. It seems popular to keep plants on the balcony, I think I would too if I had one. It helps with the lack of tree thickets and green space here, which is something my mind took some adjusting to.
Perhaps the plants are just waiting for their chance to shine. I've seen many growing out of cracks in the pavement, showcasing just how hard nature fights to continue on.
The beautiful berry-flower combo that can be seen here is totally unique to me. Although I've spent some time in the southern USA where plant life tends to be much more varied, the scope of things that grow here still amazes me.
In general, my surroundings are like a buffet of mental sustenance to me!
Take this house for example.
A fir tree lives next to the palm, framed by the simple yet elegant shape of this home. Although the shutters are pulled down, I can feel a story in this residence. I imagine a grand gathering planned, or a lone woman standing on the balcony waiting for her errant lover to return.
The smell of jasmine floats on the air, and my mind wanders...
Of course, no matter how lofty my thoughts may get, there is always the constant of human immaturity to snap me back to reality.
It just goes to show, across oceans and borders, young folks are the same. The spray-painted penis on the wall unifies us, a gesture that needs no explanation.
I'll try to focus on other common factors though. The bliss fresh rugs bring is also universal I think.
The plastic chair propped to hold these massive rugs in place makes me smile. I'm a dreamer too, and I root for whoever rigged this up.
Even in the smallest things, I find beauty here, connection.
All photos are my own, taken with a Canon EOS Rebel T100
