Petra
Trip Start
Aug 01, 2010
1
4
Trip End
Aug 17, 2010
What a wonderful, refreshing welcome Jordan was! Let me contrast the first people we met in this country with the people you'll meet in Israel. The border guard smiled and made a joke with us when checking our passport. The guy selling water replied to Carrie's question about what method of payment he prefers with "Any way you like, my lady! Euros, shekels, pounds, dollars, I take it all." When we came back into Israel two days later, the first guy we met was a security guard who wanted to rearrange the pylons directing pedestrian queues for the metal detector. Carrie happened to be leaning on one he wanted to move. He walked up behind her, grabbed the pole, yanked it out from under her and positioned it where he wanted. No warning, no request, no tap on the shoulder. Those two simple acts personify the entire respective countries. Jordanians were warm, friendly, courteous, cheerful and helpful. Israelis were discourteous, rude, deceptive, and, overwhelmingly self righteous.
