Jordan - Morning at the Dead Sea × Amman Citadel Adventure

[5/29｜Farewell to the Dead Sea × First Day in Amman: Mountain City Exploration and Shopping Spree on Rainbow Street!] Woke up early at around 6 AM today. Tried to go back to sleep but couldn’t, so I decided to get up early and take one last dip in the Dead Sea before checking out. Turns out Hilton’s beach and pool don’t open until 8 AM because they have lifeguards on duty, and their shift starts at 8 sharp! By 7 AM, we were already lounging on the poolside chairs, scrolling through our phones and zoning out. The morning breeze and the sight of the sky gradually brightening over the Dead Sea felt surreal and relaxing. ⸻ 🧂 Final Dead Sea Float: Learning to "Know When to Stop" As soon as the doors opened at 8 AM, we headed straight to the sea. This time, I was smarter and only applied Dead Sea mud to my hands and feet. Yesterday, I covered myself entirely in mud and spent half the day scrubbing it off in the shower. Today, I kept it simple and just enjoyed the "floating sensation." With fewer guests around, the sea was quiet, the sunlight was gentle, and the water shimmered like a silver mirror—absolutely blissful. After floating in the Dead Sea until 9 AM, we returned to our room to shower and get ready for breakfast. Hilton’s breakfast was truly impressive—not only was there a wide variety of dishes, but the quality was excellent, and the service was top-notch. The staff even personally recommended juices and signature dishes. It was everything you’d expect from a five-star hotel. ⸻ 🚗 Travel Day: Dead Sea → Amman We checked out at noon and bid farewell to the Dead Sea. Today’s driver was a substitute since our original driver Hani’s car was still under repair. The replacement was a young driver whose driving style was more "spirited," but at least he spoke English, which was better than yesterday’s temporary driver. The drive took about two hours, climbing from the lowest point on Earth to Jordan’s capital, Amman. The transition from the tranquil Dead Sea to the bustling Middle Eastern city was striking—suddenly, there were skyscrapers everywhere and luxury cars aplenty! ⸻ 🏨 Hotel Review: The Boutique Hotel Amman We originally booked two double rooms for two nights, but the hotel proactively messaged us to offer a free upgrade to a family suite. The suite included two bedrooms, a living room, a small kitchen, and two bathrooms—such thoughtful service! ⸻ 🛍 Amman’s Price Shock: Carrefour is Heaven After checking in, we visited the nearby Carrefour and were stunned: water was only 0.25 JD! In tourist areas like Petra and the Dead Sea, a 1.5-liter bottle of water costs anywhere from 0.5 to 2 JD. Souvenirs like magnets, which cost 5 JD at tourist spots, were only 1-2 JD in the city. If you’re visiting Jordan, save your shopping for Amman—it’s cheaper and more convenient! ⸻ 🏛 Afternoon Attraction: Amman Citadel After resting until 4 PM, we headed to one of Amman’s most famous historical sites—the Amman Citadel. 📍 Quick Note: Amman’s Terrain Amman is a typical hill city, with buildings extending along the hilly landscape. Driving often involves sharp turns and uphill climbs. Although the hotel said it was a 20-minute walk, we opted for a taxi instead. Uber is very affordable in the city, costing around 1.5-2 JD (approximately 65-80 TWD). For sightseeing, it’s best not to overexert yourself. 📍 About Amman Citadel: • Located on one of Amman’s highest hills, with history dating back to the Bronze Age • Served as a fortress for Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic empires • Key ruins include: the Temple of Hercules, Byzantine church remains, and the surviving Umayyad Palace Our group’s dress code today was beige tones, which paired perfectly with the ruins for a cinematic vibe. We ended up taking photos for 2.5 hours—it felt like a professional photoshoot! ⸻ 🛑 Rainbow Street Taxi Price Drama After leaving the Citadel, we planned to head to Rainbow Street. At the Citadel entrance, a taxi driver quoted us 20 JD!? We checked Uber and saw it was only 1.3 JD, so we refused. The driver then dropped his price from 20 to 10, then to 5—absolutely ridiculous. In the end, we stuck with Uber. Highly recommend checking Uber prices before deciding on transportation in Amman. ⸻ 🍽 Dinner @ Mijana + Shopping Spree on Rainbow Street For dinner, we chose Mijana, a restaurant with over 20,000 reviews and a 4.8-star rating on Google. The ambiance was beautiful, and the atmosphere was great, but we found the food average and slightly pricey—about 20 JD per person, including drinks. After dinner, we wandered freely along Rainbow Street, which is filled with shops run by local artists, small design brands, and jewelry stalls. We bought necklaces, rings, bracelets, and other accessories until we couldn’t carry anymore—our shopping enthusiasm was reignited! Initially, we felt cold during dinner and wanted to return to the hotel, but the street’s lights and market vibe instantly warmed us up 😆 ⸻ 🌃 Amman Night & Summary Amman’s nighttime temperature drops significantly—from 28°C during the day to 15°C at night—so remember to bring a jacket! Today’s itinerary wasn’t packed, but every stop felt just right. The Citadel and Rainbow Street completely changed our perception of Amman’s charm as a mountain city. With affordable prices, diverse food options, and cheap transportation, we recommend ending your Jordan trip in Amman to relax and shop to your heart’s content!