Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
shades and dinner sets), some decorated with Arabic calligraphy, and pieces cost around
JD50 to JD80.
CERAMICS
Silsal Ceramics
( 5931128; Innabeh St, North Abdoun; 9am-6pm Sat-Thu)
Has a small showroom
of superb modern pottery. If you're coming along Zahran St from 5th Circle, it's the third
small street on the right.
Information
Emergency
The tourist police have an office at the Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities and there is a
small tourist-police booth on Hashemi St near the Roman Theatre.
Ambulance
( 911)
Fire department
( 911)
Police
( 911)
Tourist Police
( 4603360, ext 254; Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities, ground fl, Al-
Mutanabbi St, Jebel Amman; 8am-9pm)
Traffic police/accidents
( 911)
CROSSING THE STREET IN AMMAN
When you first arrive in Amman, one of your greatest challenges is likely to be making it safely to the other side of
the street. This is especially true of the downtown area, although the faster-moving thoroughfares elsewhere also
pose a serious hazard to your health. Contrary to what you may think, Amman's drivers have no desire to run you
over; they just want to get to their destination as quickly as possible.
The installation of more traffic lights has made the situation a little easier, but you'll still have a better chance of
survival if you follow a few simple 'rules'. In slow-moving traffic, the name of the game is brinkmanship - whoever
yields last will win. A car missing you by inches may scare the hell out of you but is actually a normal and precisely
calculated course of events.
Cross wide roads a lane at a time - if you wait for a big gap you'll be there all day. Some unscrupulous travellers
have even been known to hail a taxi so that it will block traffic and give them a lane's head start. Make your de-
