10-30 (Tuesday)

I'm here! To update . . .
Anna showed up at 2:30 to take me to the airport. She helped me weigh my suitcase - 39 lbs. When I had it weighed at the airport 39 lbs! We were right on the money.

This morning when I was buying gas I asked the clerk where she was from and she said Palestine. I told her I was leaving for Jordan this afternoon - that excited her. She said, "Be sure to take warm clothes, it's really cold." I went home and threw more cold weather clothes in my suitcase.

On the plane from Memphis to Amsterdam I was sitting next to a guy who was on his way to Bagdad. I was surprised that he was traveling commercial. I took 1/2 of an Ambien and fell asleep before they served dinner but after I ate I didn't sleep at all. They served us breakfast at 1 a.m. Orlando time. We landed at 3 a.m. Orlando time in Amsterdam. The pilot wanted to make sure we were thoroughly acquainted with the airport because he must have driven over every runway for 30-45 minutes before we got to the gate. I told the guy next to me I thought we were driving him to Bagdad.

I found the transfer desk and got myself a boarding pass. I walked around and poked in the shops since I'd been sitting so long. My eyes were bloodshot from no sleep and I had dropped food on my blouse which I tried to wash off in the bathroom. I was lovely!

About 10 minutes before we were to board I went to my gate. There were only about 15 seats so many people were standing. There was an empty seat between a man and a woman so I went over and sat down. I don't know if this was allowed since he was Arab but no one paid any attention to it. Shortly a man came out and said, "Amman passengers, come on in." We went through x-ray and then sat in another waiting room where there were plenty of chairs. A girl and her 7 month old baby sat down across from me. She was from Palestine but going to Amman to see her parents. She lives in Alaska with her Arab husband who is a cancer specialist. She had come all the way from Alaska with that baby. He was worn out. She paid for a seat for him so she didn't have to hold him the entire way. She had a suitcase and a huge Eddie Bauer buggy. I helped her get on the plane. My seat was next to a German couple. I knew as soon as I sat down where they were from and I'll bet Dinki knows why!

If you have traveled international you're familiar with the map on your viewing (TV) screen. It shows where you started, where you're going, how many miles you've traveled etc. Well . . . on Royal Jordanian Air from Amsterdam to Amman they showed the direction of Mecca! As the plane turned the arrow pointing to Mecca was updated. Interesting.

When we landed I helped the girl with the baby again. She must have had 8 more bags besides the one I was helping her with (she was staying 2 months.) I got my visa (15 US) at the airport. I came in at terminal one and Lynda at terminal 2. Luckily they were just across the street from each other. I was waiting there as Lynda came out of customs. After changing some money we got a cab to the Gondola Hotel which was a long ride. I took a shower, washed out my dirty shirt and got in bed by 10:30.