On the Road

I love to travel, and break away from my familiar surroundings and routines, but I've hit a point in the trip where the excitement of the novelty has worn off, and I just want things to be simple and hassle-free. But when you're away from home, and in a foreign country where you don't speak the language and don't know how to operate the kitchen equipment, hassle is inevitable.

I can't just go somewhere; I have to wait for a bus and plan around schedules. I can't just walk upstairs to my dwelling; I have to stop by the desk, ask for the key, make pleasantries, etc. I can't just get in a car and go somewhere; I have to flag a taxi and give the driver directions. I can't just cook breakfast; my face gets burned. And since then, I can't just walk outside; I have to put on sunscreen, a scarf, a hat, and sunglasses.

This is why I was so incredibly excited about the prospect of driving myself around Jordan this weekend. I get to be in control of where I go, when I go, what music is playing, when I stop, and how fast the vehicle goes around hairpin turns. There's no language barrier, no aggrivation, just me in control. And freedom. Me in control of my freedom, if that makes any sense.

I'm also excited to have the car because it means I can be super-efficient in my sightseeing. I don't have to wait for buses and taxis -- if I'm done after 10 minutes at Mount Nebo, I can get in the car and leave. I'll need this flexibility to hit all of Jordan's major sightseeing attractions in two days. (I'm finishing work on Wednesday and likely leaving Jordan on Thursday.)

Getting the car was difficult (not many cars left when we started looking), but well worth it once I got going. I had no problem getting out of Amman -- after weeks of taking taxis and cars around the city, I knew exactly where to go to find the roads leading out of town. All signs for the tourist destinations were clearly marked in both English and Arabic, and there were lots of helpful signs along the route that led me right to Petra. I left Amman at 4:30 and arrived in Petra by 7:30.