Nearly all the streets in the city centre hve been ripped up and new seal and paving is being laid. It will look spectacular when it is finished, but right now the sand blows everywhere and the grinders cutting the stone pavers are both dusty and noisy. The positive thing is that there are no cars any where!
Madaba is pretty laid back. The shop keepers give up hassling you after one attempt of 'Come and look'. There are several nice restaurants in the centre and we enjoyed the hotel where we stayed.
Madaba is nearer the airport than Amman so it is a good option for easing yourself into Jordan.
We visited the Roman ruins where there are several mosaic floors and an old road. They were discovered when a resident wanted to build on the site and it is now a museum and mosaic studio where you can have lessons if you want.
In the Greek Orthodox Church was a mosaic of map of the Holy Land. It was so full of tourists doing a bus tour we missed the ticket office and ticket collector.
We had to do some repairs to our portable water boiler that we had purchased in Syria and the local TV repairman was most obliging. He offered us mint tea while we waited and wouldn't take any payment for soldering the wires back on.
The people of Madaba were very friendly and everyone wishes you a 'Welcome to Jordan' as you pass them in the street.
These lads were sitting at the bus station when we left to go back to Amman. they had pigeons in their boxes and were trying to sell them to the bus passengers.
