My Heart Sank Today
Deadly explosions rock Jordan hotels Explosions hit three hotels in the Jordanian capital Wednesday night, and at least 18 people were killed. http://g.msn.com/0MN2ET7/2?http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9979747&&CM=EmailThis&CE=1
I stayed at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Amman, Jordan for four days in December of 2000.
Amman is a great city and the people a super friendly as well as diverse. I remember taking a cab down to the city center, where my band mates and I got to climb all over a Roman (most likely) amphitheater. It was the Muslim holiday of Eid, the end of Ramadan, and kids where everywhere. Kids came up to my band mates and I and wanted to touch us and hug us. A few little ones came up to me, shook my hand, giggled, then ran away, then came back up to me again. Maybe they thought I looked like Queen Rania? (In my dreams, maybe.)
There was a great Irish pub there where the bartender let my friends and I have a tab for several days. He did not not know us from Adam, but he trusted us just the same.
The location at the Grand Hyatt where the bomb exploded was near the hotel lobby, in an open bar/restaurant area. The guys and I ate breakfast in that area, which had an enormous picture window and a magnificent view of the city, on several occasions. The bartender made great "breakfast" Bloody Marys. To give an idea of how the lobby is set up, when you walk in the revolving doors, the bell stand and reception desk is on the right. There are some shops to the left (which sell beautiful dishes). I think the meeting rooms are to the left as well. Straight ahead is a beautiful, open sitting area, where we sat many mornings and evenings, waiting for our ride to the Embassy.
(I started the above post on November 9)
I remember our representative from the US Embassy in Jordan telling us to avoid large crowds and my band mates and I were always vigilante when on the Middle Eastern tours. This was in 2000, long before the World Trade Center, but we were the first band out since the attack on the USS Kohl (forgive me if I spelled that wrong), so all bases and embassies were on high alert.
Amman was one of my favorite stops on that tour. I am having problems posting some pictures of our room at the Grand Hyatt and of me outside my favorite schwarma stand,but with some luck the pics will be added by the time anyone looks at this entry.
Kudos to the Jordanians for rallying against terrorism!
I stayed at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Amman, Jordan for four days in December of 2000.
Amman is a great city and the people a super friendly as well as diverse. I remember taking a cab down to the city center, where my band mates and I got to climb all over a Roman (most likely) amphitheater. It was the Muslim holiday of Eid, the end of Ramadan, and kids where everywhere. Kids came up to my band mates and I and wanted to touch us and hug us. A few little ones came up to me, shook my hand, giggled, then ran away, then came back up to me again. Maybe they thought I looked like Queen Rania? (In my dreams, maybe.)
There was a great Irish pub there where the bartender let my friends and I have a tab for several days. He did not not know us from Adam, but he trusted us just the same.
The location at the Grand Hyatt where the bomb exploded was near the hotel lobby, in an open bar/restaurant area. The guys and I ate breakfast in that area, which had an enormous picture window and a magnificent view of the city, on several occasions. The bartender made great "breakfast" Bloody Marys. To give an idea of how the lobby is set up, when you walk in the revolving doors, the bell stand and reception desk is on the right. There are some shops to the left (which sell beautiful dishes). I think the meeting rooms are to the left as well. Straight ahead is a beautiful, open sitting area, where we sat many mornings and evenings, waiting for our ride to the Embassy.
(I started the above post on November 9)
I remember our representative from the US Embassy in Jordan telling us to avoid large crowds and my band mates and I were always vigilante when on the Middle Eastern tours. This was in 2000, long before the World Trade Center, but we were the first band out since the attack on the USS Kohl (forgive me if I spelled that wrong), so all bases and embassies were on high alert.
Amman was one of my favorite stops on that tour. I am having problems posting some pictures of our room at the Grand Hyatt and of me outside my favorite schwarma stand,but with some luck the pics will be added by the time anyone looks at this entry.
Kudos to the Jordanians for rallying against terrorism!
posted by Jeni @ 3:28 PM
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