From Jordan to Nazareth
The day before I left Amman, I went to the bus station to book a ticket to get to the Israel/Jordan border. The guy told me 12JD (about $20) but I couldn't make a reservation because the computer was down. Ok, no problem, I would just go back at the appointed time the next day and get my ticket and go to Israel bright and early.
Well, I show up at the bus station nice and early with just enough money to buy my ticket and 2 or 3JD left over just in case when they tell me it's not 12JD but 30JD - which is around $45. I threw a fit! Not only did the guy tell me a resaonable price the day before, now I have to withdraw MORE money that will cost me $5 to do. I rarely throw fits like that in public but I was furious! So, I went and got more money and paid what I had to and waited for the bus. By the way, I was the ONLY person on the bus, about the size of a greyhound bus. Nice and efficient.
When I got to the border, I was asked a couple of questions and had to give my thumb print. I wanted to know about the thumb print and where it was going and they wouldn't tell me! Instead, they took my passport, which had a note in it saying I had come to Jordan with a group (and I was no longer with that group -- we just crossed the Gulf of Aqaba together to get into Jordan and then I split from them). Apparently, they thought it was worth investigating. And by investigating, I mean they wandered around the building with my passport looking for some guy who was supposed to do something about it either because he was the only one who spoke English or because they wanted to make me wait because I asked too many questions. Stupid border-crossings.
So anyway, after the border, I got into a little van and it took me to Nazareth. After wandering around to find a place, I found this AWESOME hostel - Fauzi Azar. It's this old Arab house converted into a hostel. It was beautiful. Not too nice but well-maintained and clean. It had a great view over the old city. The staff were some of the friendliest I've seen so far (and by friendly I mean not too overbearing or creepy) and the other guests were a lot of fun.
So, the trip to Nazareth was full of problems and I never thought I would be happy to be back in Israel.
Well, I show up at the bus station nice and early with just enough money to buy my ticket and 2 or 3JD left over just in case when they tell me it's not 12JD but 30JD - which is around $45. I threw a fit! Not only did the guy tell me a resaonable price the day before, now I have to withdraw MORE money that will cost me $5 to do. I rarely throw fits like that in public but I was furious! So, I went and got more money and paid what I had to and waited for the bus. By the way, I was the ONLY person on the bus, about the size of a greyhound bus. Nice and efficient.
When I got to the border, I was asked a couple of questions and had to give my thumb print. I wanted to know about the thumb print and where it was going and they wouldn't tell me! Instead, they took my passport, which had a note in it saying I had come to Jordan with a group (and I was no longer with that group -- we just crossed the Gulf of Aqaba together to get into Jordan and then I split from them). Apparently, they thought it was worth investigating. And by investigating, I mean they wandered around the building with my passport looking for some guy who was supposed to do something about it either because he was the only one who spoke English or because they wanted to make me wait because I asked too many questions. Stupid border-crossings.
So anyway, after the border, I got into a little van and it took me to Nazareth. After wandering around to find a place, I found this AWESOME hostel - Fauzi Azar. It's this old Arab house converted into a hostel. It was beautiful. Not too nice but well-maintained and clean. It had a great view over the old city. The staff were some of the friendliest I've seen so far (and by friendly I mean not too overbearing or creepy) and the other guests were a lot of fun.
So, the trip to Nazareth was full of problems and I never thought I would be happy to be back in Israel.