Welcome the stranger among you

How wonderful it is to be with people who are hospitable.

Imagine being spotted across an amphitheatre and waved to, then called to by the teenage girl "Hello, can I take your photo". What a privilege to be seen as a welcome presence in this place. We returned the favour then went on our way. Through the fascinating museum of popular crafts - as I write I can identify different traditional headpieces worn by Bedouin, and Palestinians from Ramallah, Bethlehem and Damascus....by tht time I get home I doubt it :-)

Later Allison said "I wish we'd got their names". So we retired to a bit of Roman seating to plan our next foray into the busy Friday (read crazy weekend) traffic in Amman - drive and blow your horn the rules seem to be irrelevant (note to self remember the cars come the other way!) And then the family spotted us again. This time because 'Mum' had been looking for us as she really wanted a photo of her and her girls with us. We sat alongside total strangers who suddenly didn't seem strangers anymore - she hugged me (yes I teary-ed up) and told me she loved me. How special is that!

This is juxtaposed against the incredible maleness of this society - no women working anywhere. Even in women's clothes shops it's all 95% men serving - it's a weird culture shock - and if I am to acquire one of those beautiful Palestinian dresses then I'm going to have to brave it - gulp!

Too tired to think more now... off to early dinner and hopefully sleep.