Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore.....

.....wow. I'm in the Middle East.

Traffic. Pollution. Not a woman in sight. I was the only caucasion female on the plane, and the place was only 5% women. Right now - so glad I'm brunette, and so glad I'm married. Goal: keep a low profile. And have fun! It's safe, I'm just getting stared at. I can deal with that.

I just arrived, and I'm about to hit up the felafel bar next door (starving!). I'm glad I met a nice bloke on the plane on his way to Jerusalem, who helped me navigate and share a taxi - or else I don't think I'd have made it to the hotel. Everything is in Arabic! (not surprisingly).

Talking to him also means that I might use this time to visit Syria (but will have a Visa problem so unlikely....) and Israel (in that order, LOL, or I'll end up in prison) . Jerusalem is only a couple of hours away. Either way I'll visit Eilat in Israel while I'm down in Aqaba, and all things going well make it a round trip..... May as well make the most of my centrally located Middle East position.... Won't be straying over to the Iraq border though (Gecko's does not recommend. People die. *that's one for my travel buddies *).

Anyway, will write more later. I look forward to getting woken up by the call to morning prayer from the mosque down the road at 5:14am, so it will be an early start (even with ear plugs).

Love to my family, some of whom have had a tough day. x