Here’s how I found Crumz:  I mention to my Arabic teacher that I miss bagels (don’t remember exactly how that came up).  She replies ‘Oh, I had a student that found bagels here that she said were better than those in New York.  She said it was somewhere in Abdoun, I think by Fitness First’.  The quest begins.  Although I am doubtful about the New York claim, at this point any half-decent bagel will do if toasted.  I go to two cafes in the area, Lemons and one with a forgotten name, but no bagels.  A couple months later, a friend mentions a bakery in the area so I go back to check it out. Bagels!

Oh, but this is just the beginning.  Crumz also has breakfast.  So my first day, I have an egg on a bagel and…a side of bacon!!! Bagels and bacon in the same magical cafe.  See, in these Muslim parts, bacon is hard to come by.  Many Western style cafes will have breakfast with ’sausage’, but it’s actually sliced hot dog.

Hot dog.

Sure, they’re both cylindrical mystery-meat and it’s hard to explain the difference to one who hasn’t had sausage.  But there’s a HUGE difference.  Kinda funny ’cause some Muslims cheat and drink alcohol but I’ve never met a single one who’s eaten pork.

To top it off, the brewed coffee there is decent and, on request, they serve it with cream.  Actual cream.  I miss half n half a lot so this is quite a treat.  There’s nothing worse than a cup of coffee with skim milk.  Why even drink it, I ask.

In summary, Crumz is my new favorite breakfast place in Amman.  Their website isn’t working (see what I mean?) so Facebook is the best bet: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&ref=search&gid=63600004360

In a beauty salon in Amman, the pursuit of beauty is filmed from the point of view of those who work there: women from Egypt, Iraq, and the .

A couple of my friends from Abu Dhabi, all Americans, went to Jordan this week, and because I am in Jordan so often, they wanted my opinion of what to

Tourism Alternatives in Jordan

do—especially with their first two days in Amman.  My best advice for tourists stuck in Amman is to leave, as it is the only part of Jordan that has almost nothing to offer Western tourists on a short stay. My suggestions have been rolling off my tongue for years, pretty much in this order:

1.    Petra:  Now one of the Great Wonders of the World
2.    The Dead Sea:  Take a mud bath at the lowest point on Earth.
3.    Aqaba:  Swim and sun at the Red Sea.
4.    Jebel Musa: Where Moses saw the Promised Land for the first time, and near the old but still bustling town of Madaba, with its historic church.
5.    Jesus Baptism Site:  I often wonder what Jesus would think about  people look up from the water to find themselves starring at an armed Israel solider standing guard just on the other side of the narrow Jordan River.
6.    Jerash:  The old Roman amphitheatre is especially fun if it’s the Jerash festival, and especially if you eat kebab at Abu Yahya’s overlooking the valley.
7.    Wadi Rum:  Live out your Lawrence of Arabia fantasies in a group tour.
8.    Karak:  Fascinating ruins near the mountaintop city of Salt.
9.    Pella:  Yes, more ruins and another chance to see more of Jordan’s otherworldy landscape.
10.    Downtown Amman (if you must and only if you’ve never seen any other Middle Eastern downtown):  The gold souk, the dirt and crowds, the mom and pop shops, and Hashem, the popular falafel and hummos spot that takes up both sides of an alley.

All the above things are things I rarely do, unless I have tourists in tow with me—seen one of the great wonders of the world five or ten times, and it’s like you’ve seen it a hundred.  But for people who are going to stay longer, I’m going to start mentioning these things, too.

1.    Ajloun: The best views and weather in Jordan. At Saladin’s old fort, you can look out and see Jerusalem on a clear day, just as Moses did at Jebel Musa.
2.    Dana Reserve:  Where the deer and the antelope play.
3.    Ma’een: A natural hot springs deep in a gorge, and now with a luxury hotel.
4.    The Houses of West Amman:  This “I can build a bigger mansion than you can” neighborhood actually offers spectacular views.  Park at the Abdoun Mall and head for the hills from there.
5.    Wikalat Street: A pedestrian-only street of stores and cafes anchoring the Suweifeh neighborhood, which amongst its many divergent streets offers up shops that  specialize in honey, chocolate, spices, or cheese, and selling everything from evening gowns to screwdrivers.
6.    Jabri Restaurant: Mansaf is the national dish of Jordan, and Jabri’s mansaf, although it has been served at royal and state gatherings for decades, is for everybody.
7.    The Palestinian Refugee Camps:  A painful reminder that all is not well in the world.
8.    Palestine:  The border is half an hour a way, and the Palestinians in Jerusalem and elsewhere on the West Bank need the boost of tourism.

I am no Hemingway. I wouldn’t recognize the smell of wine on your breath, nor would I be able to identify the drink by the shape and color of its bottle. But when I see one of those glass containers used in World War II to apply alcohol to soldier’s wounds, I know as well as the next person that that bottle dispenses a different kind of alcohol today.

There are a lot of these bottles littering Amman’s countryside and, interspersed with the rocks, shards and shards of broken glass.

In a lapse of realism, I pinned this irresponsibility on Jordan’s tourists, its foreigners, the people who, I thought, would venture out into this wilderness to have a little wild fun of their own.

“No no,” my aunt’s husband said with the authority of a local. “It’s the shabab (young people). They come out here — boys and girls together — to drink and do things. You’d think it’d be others, but” he shrugged his eyebrows and clicked his tongue.

“Christians here tell us,” he continued, “we don’t drink like you Muslims do. When you drink, you drink a kundara (literally: a shoe; figuratively: a bootful).”

I laughed so hard. “A bootful?”

My aunt’s husband smiled one of his rare smiles. “That’s an expression here. When you drink ’til you’re drunk.” He raised an imaginary beer mug to his lips, but I saw him drinking his liquor from a boot befitting Paul Bunyan. (Gosh, I love Arabic expressions.)

While he went for a walk, my aunt and I perched on a flat boulder which sat on the neck of a hill. The enormous valley before us was a sight to see. A long steep road ran between the hills, like the meeting of two pages in a book.  The sky was freckled with clouds and the ground was piebald — greens, yellows, browns and whites — thanks to recent rain. A horse neighed in the distance and a crowd of untended goats grazed a stone’s throw from our picnic. The cool wind stung our faces and the hot homemade tahini-roasted-chicken sandwiches warmed our hands.

A car drove past, and a well-dressed man in a red keffiyeh and i’gal shouted “Sahtain! May you enjoy your meal!” from the passenger seat. When my aunt’s husband returned from his walk, we told him about the cheerful passenger, how we thought it a strange but respectful gesture. He respectfully disagreed.

“Any man who speaks to strange women like that is not muhtaram (respectable). Had I been sitting with you, would he have told me sahtain?” No, he wouldn’t. He had a point. Still, my aunt and I wordlessly agreed that he was a little jealous.

A half-hour later, when my aunt and I walked past a party of three middle-aged men along an empty road, they shouted “Tfaddalu! Come join us!” We didn’t hear it actually, but my aunt’s husband (who protectively followed at a distance) heard it and more. They had been drinking, he could tell, so he suggested we move our party elsewhere.

My aunt’s husband is a chivalrous man, a man with muroo’ah who will drive me (or even my friend) halfway across Amman so we don’t have to take a taxi cab at night. He does it out of a deep sense of obligation.

He knows Amman better than I do, so when he asks me not to wander off into the forest alone, I respect his wishes. And when he asks me to climb up out of the valley because wild dogs haunt the place after sunset, I do as I’m told. (And even though I’ve encountered one or two of the coyote lookalikes, I can’t help but think of the wild dogs as metaphor.)

In several of Shakespeare’s plays — most notably A Midsummer Night’s Dream — the forest represents an escape from the law and order of family and state. The presiding authority of fathers and kings disappears under the thick forest canopy, as love triangles turn into quadrangles and pentagons, and young people and fairies run amok. In the far less known Two Gentleman of Verona, Shakespeare’s forest is also home to bandits and outcasts, and a gentle lady is nearly raped by a gentleman among the trees.

Even in a country as heavily policed as Jordan, the forest does feel like a stateless lawless place. And every act — good or bad — seems to have a bigger resonance there because in our almost-solitude society’s pressures are, for the most part, stripped away.

In the forest, the tree, too, looks like an entirely different person; it seems more sublime raising its arms up to the heavens before a sympathetic audience than when its humility is dwarfed by glass-and-steel buildings grabbing lustily at a placid sky.

In the forest valley, both the cheerful yodel and the hollered profanity have a seemingly eternal echo. In a place where the sun rays are are more perfect than a king’s crown, where the hilly horizon is as proud as a pharaoh’s tomb, where a tree threatens to outlive me and my grandchildren too — everything is exaggerated.

To escape to the forest is to find myself instantly marginalized, to feel keenly my own insignificance. The tree will shed its leaves, the rocks will crumble to sand, the wind will travel its course, with or without me.

That is why, despite the outcasts, bandits and drunkards, the wilderness feels like a refuge. A place to hide away from society beside a spider’s web and a pigeon’s nest. A place to feel alone and helpless and safe and befriended — all at the same time. All, while taking in a single breath of freshly photosynthesized afternoon air.

By Hadi Alaeddin
Originally Published On aslittledesign
…

…

I tried embedding this video but it’s not working…

WATCH THIS VIDEO!

…

Maybe you know this already, but the work of Dieter Rams is getting more exposure and being noticed by non-product designers more and more every day. His work and teachings are things I spent my college years and even after with, learning more with every thing I read…

His words are not to be taken lightly , neither can he be confused with other famous names in the design world… He does not say or do the irrelevant, the unnecessary, or the fantastic. He’s a designer with a collective experience that surpasses groups of young designers put together.

Just now his work is being published in a way it deserves. Later this month the amazing publisher Gestalten books is releasing Less and More The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams. It looks awesome, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.

…

What bothered me after these principle spread over all online communities is the fact that I’ve had an idea of a poster in my head, even though it’s a personal project, I never got around to finalizing it. But I did post how I have those ten principles on the walls of my room and the office.

Bibliothèque An amazing design studio was commisioned by Vitsoe to do that poster for the ten principles, and it looks good, based on a very well-thought of grid, and photographs and color palette that really feel like dieter rams’ work. I liked it even though it made me hate my self for not doing my idea.

…

I tried embedding this video but it’s not working… go and WATCH THIS VIDEO!

…

Maybe you know this already, but the work of Dieter Rams is getting more exposure and being noticed by non-product designers more and more every day. His work and teachings are things I spent my college years and even after with, learning more with every thing I read…

His words are not to be taken lightly , neither can he be confused with other famous names in the design world… He does not say or do the irrelevant, the unnecessary, or the fantastic. He’s a designer with a collective experience that surpasses groups of young designers put together.

Just now his work is being published in a way it deserves. Later this month the amazing publisher Gestalten books is releasing Less and More The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams. It looks awesome, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.

…

What bothered me after these principle spread over all online communities is the fact that I’ve had an idea of a poster in my head, even though it’s a personal project, I never got around to finalizing it. But I did post how I have those ten principles on the walls of my room and the office.

Bibliothèque An amazing design studio was commisioned by Vitsoe to do that poster for the ten principles, and it looks good, based on a very well-thought of grid, and photographs and color palette that really feel like dieter rams’ work. I liked it even though it made me hate my self for not doing my idea.

…

Rent: $5,750
Security: 1 months
Details
Size: Three Bedroom
Ownership: Rental Property
R/B/B: 5/3/2
Availability: Immediate
Term: 12 – 24 Months
Neighborhood: Flatiron District
Apartment Features
Kitchen: Dishwasher; Window: Oversized Windows; High Ceiling; Abundant Closets;
Building Description
Cross Streets: Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue.
Concierge; Elevator; Post-war; Built 2008; Loft; 20 Floors; 100 Apartments.
Building Amenities
Bicycle Room; Fitness Room; Rooftop Deck; Common Storage Room;
Building Policies
Pets Allowed.

R.S.V.P. for a tour:
Jamie Knuckles
NestSeekers International
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com
Amenities
Brand New Building Same developers as 75 Wall Street. Condo Finishes at Rental Prices. Penthouse Great layout Small rooms but great outdoor space. Nice Amenities, but location is the selling point.

* Doorman
* Concierge
* Health Club
* Elevator

You’ll be in the heart of a dynamic neighborhood that pulses with the energy of galleries and artists, restaurants and clubs, boutiques and markets. Here, where West Chelsea meets The Meatpacking District, the urban fabric ranges from unpaved cobblestone streets.

Rent:
* $3,895 Studio available
* $7,095 2-Bedroom available

Building Amenities and Services

* Doorman
* Concierge
* Gym/fitness center (with fitness concierge)
* Children’s playroom/space
* Parking garage (24-hour attended, indoor)
* Elevators (9)
* Spa
* Lounge
* Terrace
* Library
* Business center
* Pet spa
* Bicycle storage
* Garden

Apartment Features and Amenities

* Bamboo flooring
* Floor-to-ceiling windows
* Dishwasher
* Washer and dryer
* Sub-zero refrigerator
* Walk-in closets (some units)
* Terrace (some units)

Rules and Restrictions * Pets allowed

You’ll be in the heart of a dynamic neighborhood that pulses with the energy of galleries and artists, restaurants and clubs, boutiques and markets. Here, where West Chelsea meets The Meatpacking District, the urban fabric ranges from unpaved cobblestone streets.

Situated at the nexus of West Chelsea, Gansevoort and the Meatpacking District, this luxurious residential building represents a new exciting style of living in a historic downtown location. The Building renters the unique opportunity to experience unprecedented services and amenities including the first fully integrated Equinox Fitness Club within a residential tower.
Amenities: Dining Room, Washer/Dryer, Central A/C

R.S.V.P. To Preview:
Jamie Knuckles
Nest Seekers
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com

Amenities

* Dining Room
* Washer/Dryer
* Central A/C

Renting
❚ Free of maintenance obligations.
❚ Not committed to staying in a
house or neighborhood.
❚ Can move quickly.
❚ Free of costs, such as homeowner’s
insurance and property taxes.
Buying
❚ Build equity.
❚ Tax advantages*.
❚ Stable monthly payments.
❚ Strong sense of community.
❚ Place for family and relatives to live.

The options are countless and time is of the essence in this high-demand market. Let a professional lead you through the process and help you make it an enjoyable experience.

Offering: One to Five Bedrooms, Condominiums, Lofts, Penthouses and Townhouses,

NEIGHBORHOODS: Soho, Tribeca, Greenwich Village, Upper East Side, and Upper West Side, Park Avenue, and Harlem. Also, the Hamptons offer quality living as great as anywhere else in the New York.
Have a wonderful day –looking forward to speaking with you soon.

R.S.V.P. for a tour:
Jamie Knuckles
Sales Director
Nestseekers International
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com

http://www.nestseekers.com/Company/Agent/718

APARTMENT INFORMATION:
APARTMENT Conv-4 BEDROOM
Apt. #43G
RENT: $7328.75
BATHROOMS: 2

APARTMENT FEATURES:
All apartments have 9-foot high ceilings.
Most apartments with spectacular East River and/or cityscape views.
Marble bathrooms with marble topped vanities.
Individually controlled heat and air conditioning.
Every apartment features bay or corner windows.
Energy efficient, tinted dual-glazed windows.
White mini-blinds on all windows.
Private intercom system to doorman.
Individual electronic alarm system at each apartment entrance.
Many apartments include full-size washers and dryers.
Selection of cable television hook-ups available.
Full 8-foot high doors.
3/4 inch solid oak parquet floors.
Contemporary kitchens with side-by-side icemaker refrigerators, self-cleaning ovens, built-in microwaves, instant hot water dispensers and ceramic tile floors.
Many apartments feature windowed kitchens.
BUILDING FEATURES:
Landscaped building entrance, framed with limestone piers.
Elegant lobby with domed ceiling.
Attentive, uniformed doorman at your service 24-hours a day.
Beautifully decorated corridors with designer alabaster lighting fixtures and wall sconces, crown moldings and decorative wood-framed apartment entrance doors.
High-speed passenger elevators with separate service elevator.
Separate monitored service entrance, with attendant.
Attended indoor garage.
Package room with delivery escort.
Fully equipped, air conditioned laundry facility with closed circuit TV security.
Cheerfully designed children’s playroom.
Magnificent swim and fitness center with landscaped and furnished sun terrace.
55-foot lap swimming pool.
Fully equipped exercise and aerobics room.
Recreational lounge (with full kitchen facilities – ideal for private parties – by reservation.)
Men’s and women’s locker rooms, with separate saunas and showers.
Fully furnished conference room (by reservation).
PREVIEWS ARE AVAILABLE AT YOUR REQUEST!
TO SCHEDULE A VISIT CONTACT:
JAMIE KNUCKLES AT: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com
Amenities
Full Service Luxury Building.

* Doorman
* Health Club
* Pool
* Roof deck
* Elevator

* Washer/Dryer
* Central A/C

Sutton Place! Portfolio Sensational, Remarkable Unsurpassed
3 Bedroom / 2.5 Bath
$7,500 Immediate
Large Space – Room To Entertain – Kitchen with Granite Countertops
New White Oak Strip Flooring – Marble Bath

2 Bedroom / 2 Bath
$4,800 Immediate
Kitchen with Granite Countertops – Marble Baths
New White Oak Strip Flooring – Marble Baths

4 Bedroom / 3.5 Bath
$8,900 Immediate
Large Space – Room To Entertain – Separate Dining – Eat-in Kitchen

Kitchen with Granite Countertops – Marble Baths

The building has a free health club, garage, valet service, concierge, doorman, bicycle room, storage space, a wine cellar, and it permits pets.

• FT Doorman
• Full Service Garage
• Health Club
• Elevator
• Located in Beekman/Sutton Place

R.S.V.P. for a preview:
Jamie knuckles
Nestseekers
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com
Amenities

* Central A/C

Turtle Bay Luxury*
Rent: $5,900
Lease Type: Condo Sublet
Details
Size: One Bedroom
Ownership: Condominium
R/B/B: 3/1/1.5
Availability: Immediate
SF/SM: 880/82
Term: 12 – 24 Months
Apartment Features
AC: Central; Kitchen: Windowed; Dishwasher; Bathroom: En Suite; Window: New Windows; Washer/ Dryer; High Ceiling; Powder Room; Recessed Lighting;

Exposure / View: North; West/ Open

Building Description
Cross Streets: Second Avenue and First Avenue.
Full Service; Elevator; Post-war; Built 2001; Mid-rise; 20 Floors; 64 Apartments.

Building Amenities
Bicycle Room; Garage; Fitness Room; Laundry Room; Maid Service; Valet;

Building Policies
Pied-A-Terres Allowed. W/D Allowed. Pets Allowed. Sublets Allowed.

R.S.V.P. for a preview:
Jamie Knuckles
Sales Director
NestSeekers International
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com
Amenities
Bicycle Room; Health Club; Valet.

* Doorman
* Concierge
* Health Club

Clinton Hill Brooklyn Development Site!
APPROVED! In Clinton Hill
You Can Build In Clinton Hill!
$1,490,000
Development site for sale with pre-approved plans for 34 Condo units. In the heart of Clinton Hill neighborhood. The building will have 6 studios, 18 one bedrooms, and 10 two bedrooms units. Condos and co-ops average about $500 per square foot. Rentals average $1,600 to $2,000 for a one-bedroom and upward of $1,800 for a two-bedroom. The C and G subways serve the area. Both stop on Washington Avenue; the G also stops at Classon Avenue. The Clinton Hill area is one of the highest points in Brooklyn.

You are getting a tremendous deal on this development site!

Building Description:
Exclusive project for Condominiums in Clinton Hill (Brooklyn)
Investment Proposal

*Overview For Asset Investors*

82 Irving Place (Clinton Hill)
Brooklyn, New York 11238
Type: Vacant development site with pre-approved plans for residential condominiums.
•Location:Located in Clinton Hill, a few minutes from downtown Brooklyn.
•General description: Condominiums of 8 stories including Cellar; with 7 parking spaces and 34 storage bins for residents on the ground level.
•
Vacant site area:
28,103.22 SF + 6,531.04 SF Cellar = 34,634.25 total SF.

The vacant site has a proposed residential project which has been approved by the DOB; such project is of 34,634.25 SF and would maximize the building’s FAR (Floor area ratio).
•
Project: Thirty-four Condominiums (Three to Five per floor), with three Penthouses, a luxury building with balconies and some units with terraces.
Individual storage spaces for tenants and Parking.
•
Currently vacant land.
82 Irving Place is a Condominium of 34,634.25 SF of vacant development site, with 8 stories including the Cellar and Roof.
•
Presently, the development site is located between an apartment complex and mix-use buildings on Irving Place in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn, an area that has experienced a renaissance of growth.

The building has the DOB (Department of Buildings) approval for the construction of 34,634.25 square feet for residential use, thus maxing out the FAR. (Floor Area Ratio).
Total SF approved by DOB: 34,634.25 SF

Nest Seekers International, has exclusive marketing rights for proposed project which has been approved for residential Condominiums by the DOB ( Department of Buildings).

Project description:

Thirty-Four Condominiums, Including Three Penthouse units on the eighth floor.

Three to Five apartments per floor.

Availability of balconies and terraces in some units.

Common area with Lobby, a rear garden in the back of building.

Parking areas and individual storage.

Natural light, high-quality materials and excellent location.
Note: Set-up available upon request.

Investors R.S.V.P. for a tour of the site:
Jamie Knuckles
Nest Seekers International
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com

P.S. Profitable, let real estate work for you.
Dollars make sense when invested in this project.
Investors take note! Hit a home run!
Amenities

* Terrace
* Balcony

Financials
Furnished: $7,500
Security: 2 months
Details
Size: One Bedroom
Ownership: Condominium
R/B/B: 3/1/1
Availability: Immediate
Term: 1 – 12 Months
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Apartment Features
Kitchen: Dishwasher; Bathroom: Marble; High Ceiling;

Building Description
Cross Streets: Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue.
Full Service; Elevator; Post-war; Built 1999; Mid-rise; 10 Floors; 50 Apartments.

Building Amenities
Garage; Hotel Style Service; Business Center;

Building Policies
Pied-A-Terres Allowed. W/D Allowed. Pets Allowed.
Building Notes:

* The Phillips Club offers ownership membership as well as extended stay accommodations. These apartments can not be used as a permanent residence. This building is akin to owning a time share in lieu of staying at a hotel when in NYC.
* The Phillips Club is a member-owned luxury residence combining the advantages of home ownership with the conveniences of the city’s finest hotels, The Club offers unequaled amenities, service and privileges without recurring hotel expenses.
* The Phillips Club offers 24-hour concierge, daily maid service (nightly fee during use), and privileges at the Reebok Sports Club/NY.
* The Reebok Sports Club/NY offers rooftop in-line skating and running. Music-filled, junior Olympic size swimming pool for lap swimming. 40 -foot climbing wall. Two full-court, regulation-size basketball gymnasiums. State-of-the-art 13,000 SF coed weight-training gym. Cardiovascular deck with 5,000 SF of computerized training equipment. Challenges. Muscles and mind, recharged. Complete spa facilities including steam rooms, saunas and Jacuzzis. Large, luxurious locker rooms with towel service. Paul Lebrecque salon and spa. Exhaustive. Fitness evaluation center. Personalized instruction. Nutritional counseling. Child care center “For Kids Only.” Landscaped sundeck.
* Business amenities include: Multi-line telecommunications system with voicemail. Dataport for computer hookup. Fax machine in each residence. 24-hour business center. Conference room. Conference facilities at Reebok Sports Club/NY.

R.S.V.P. for a tour:
Jamie Knuckles
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail
Amenities
* The Phillips Club offers ownership membership as well as extended stay accommodations. These apartments can not be used as a permanent residence. This building is akin to owning a time share in lieu of staying at a hotel when in NYC.
* The Phillips Club is a member-owned luxury residence combining the advantages of home ownership with the conveniences of the city’s finest hotels, The Club offers unequaled amenities, service and privileges without recurring hotel expenses.
* The Phillips Club offers 24-hour concierge, daily maid service (nightly fee during use), and privileges at the Reebok Sports Club/NY.
* The Reebok Sports Club/NY offers rooftop in-line skating and running. Music-filled, junior Olympic size swimming pool for lap swimming. 40 -foot climbing wall. Two full-court, regulation-size basketball gymnasiums. State-of-the-art 13,000 SF coed weight-training gym. Cardiovascular deck with 5,000 SF of computerized training equipment. Challenges. Muscles and mind, recharged. Complete spa facilities including steam rooms, saunas and Jacuzzis. Large, luxurious locker rooms with towel service. Paul Lebrecque salon and spa. Exhaustive. Fitness evaluation center. Personalized instruction. Nutritional counseling. Child care center “For Kids Only.” Landscaped sundeck.
* Business amenities include: Multi-line telecommunications system with voicemail. Dataport for computer hookup. Fax machine in each residence. 24-hour business center. Conference room. Conference facilities at Reebok Sports Club/NY.

* Doorman
* Concierge
* Health Club
* Pool
* Elevator
* Garage

Union Square! Obsession For Union Square!
Financials
Rent: $8,995
Details
Size: Two Bedroom
Ownership: Rental Property
R/B/B: 4/2/2
Availability: 9/7/2009
Apartment Features
Dining Area; AC: Central; Heat: Central; Kitchen: Open; Dishwasher; Window: New Windows; Oversized Windows; Penthouse; Powder Room; Abundant Closets; Floor To Ceiling Windows; Alarm Security System;
Exposure / View: North; East/ Park
Building Description:
Cross Streets: Fourth Avenue and Broadway.
Full Service; Elevator; Post-war; Built 1998; High-rise; 27 Floors; 240 Apartments.
Building Amenities:
Health Club; Laundry Room; Rooftop Deck; Digital TV; High Speed Internet Access;
Building Policies:
Pets Allowed One dog per apartment. Weight Limit 20 lbs.

R.S.V.P. for a preview:
Jamie Knuckles
NestSeekers International
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Amenities

* Dining Room
* Central A/C

Upper West Side Super Gem!
Price: $2,300,000
Common Charges: $1,915
Real Estate Taxes: $82
Financing: 90%
Details
Size: Two Bedroom
Ownership: Condominium
R/B/B: 4/2/2
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
SF/SM: 1617/150
Apartment Features
Dining Area; AC: Central; Kitchen: Eat In; Windowed; Dishwasher; Bathroom: New/ Marble; Window: New Windows; Oversized Windows; Washer/ Dryer; Terrace; High Ceiling; Library/Den; WIC;
Exposure / View: North; East; West/ City; River

Building Description
Cross Streets: West 99th Street and West 100th Street.
Full Service; Elevator; Post-war; Built 2006; High-rise; 37 Floors; 64 Apartments.

Building Amenities
Garden; Fitness Room; Pool; Nursery; Cinema Room;

Building Policies
Pied-A-Terres Allowed. Sublets Allowed.
Broker Summary Immediate Occupancy Ariel – Traditional living like never before! These two stunning developments were designed by renowned architects Cook + Fox and Cetra/Ruddy, and offer traditional layouts with all the modern amenities of glass-curtain-wall construction. Services and amenities abound, including 24/7 doorman, concierge services, fitness by LaPalestra with 51 indoor swimming pool and outdoor basketball court, theater, billiards parlor, residents lounge with banquet space, elaborate childrens playroom, and a pet grooming salon! Steps to the best of the Upper West Side, including Central and Riverside Parks, all the cultural gems, schools, shopping, dining, and transportation.

R.S.V.P. for a tour:
Jamie Knuckles
Sales Director
NestSeekers International
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Amenities
Immediate Occupancy Ariel – Traditional living like never before! These two stunning developments were designed by renowned architects Cook + Fox and Cetra/Ruddy, and offer traditional family layouts with all the modern amenities of glass-curtain-wall construction. Services and amenities abound, including 24/7 doorman, concierge services, fitness by LaPalestra with 51 indoor swimming pool and outdoor basketball court, private theater, billiards parlor, residents lounge with banquet space, elaborate childrens playroom, and a pet grooming salon! Steps to the best of the Upper West Side, including Central and Riverside Parks, all the cultural gems, schools, shopping, dining, and transportation.

* Doorman
* Concierge
* Health Club
* Pool
* Roof deck
* Elevator

* Terrace
* Washer/Dryer
* Central A/C

sanguinejamie@gmail.com

Greenwich Street Residences Luxury
Corner unit 2 BEDROOM is over 1100 sq. ft. and features an SUNNY north / east exposure, high 11 ft. ceilings, and a huge living room with ample space for a full dining area. This unit is one of our DESIGNER READY
Price: $981,000
CC: $1149
Real estate tax: $397
Kitchen has Sub-zero Fridge, Viking Range and Microwave, Fisher/Paykal 2-Drawer Dishwashers, instant hot water tap, In-wall ipod docking station, and much, much more! Marble bath with deep soaking tub has both a Rain shower, and a handheld. Unit has 5 Large closets, one of which is a Large walk-in hall closet measuring about 5ftX6ft & built out with Elfa System. Great location, near all train lines, parks, shopping, theaters, dining. Full five star Hotel-like service with concierge and 24-hour doorman… and Very Reasonable Common Charges! Free continental breakfast is served to residents Monday through Friday. Full gym access included for all residents with free trainers and abs/Pilates/yoga classes. Building has a fantastic game room with billiards, darts and large flat screen TV. There is also an Amazing common roof deck space with towel and drink service on weekends, and an indoor “Harbor Room – Sky Lounge” which is also available for private parties. Free Wi-Fi in all common areas! This is a spectacular building to live in!

Located on Greenwich Street, this building is on the cutting edge of designer development. This art deco tower rises 37 stories with sweeping views of the city skyline, Hudson River and beyond. All of the residences feature oversized windows and soaring ceilings. Enter through the buildings art deco façade into a grand marble lobby featuring a hand carved reception desk and grotto water fountain.

5-Star amenities include a café, library with grand piano and fireplace, billiards room w/ flat screen TV, Harbour Room featuring lounge seating, poker table, dining room w/ kitchen and spectacular views and SKY DECK, with lounges and day beds all in traditional South Beach style.

This unit is being offered at attractive prices. Together with our completed common spaces and 5-Star amenity program, Greenwich Club Residences is a spectacular product and we look forward to working with you and getting your transactions closed.
R.S.V.P.
Jamie Knuckles
NestSeekers International
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671

http://www.nestseekers.com/24139/Financial_District_Luxury_Greenwich_Street_Residences_Luxury_Corner_unit_2_BEDROOM

Amenities

* Dining Room
* Central A/C

Rent: Furnished: $6,300
Security: 2 months
Apartment Features
Kitchen: Dishwasher; Bathroom: Marble; High Ceiling;
Details
Size: Studio
Ownership: Condominium
R/B/B:2/0/1
Availability: Immediate
Term: 1 – 12 Months
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Building Description
Cross Streets: Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue.
Full Service; Elevator; Post-war; Built 1999; Mid-rise; 10 Floors; 50 Apartments.

Building Amenities
Garage; Hotel Style Service; Business Center;

Building Policies
Pied-A-Terres Allowed. W/D Allowed. Pets Allowed.

Building Notes:

* The Phillips Club offers ownership membership as well as extended stay accommodations. These apartments can not be used as a permanent residence. This building is akin to owning a time share in lieu of staying at a hotel when in NYC.
* The Phillips Club is a member-owned luxury residence combining the advantages of home ownership with the conveniences of the city’s finest hotels, The Club offers unequaled amenities, service and privileges without recurring hotel expenses.
* The Phillips Club offers 24-hour concierge, daily maid service (nightly fee during use), and privileges at the Reebok Sports Club/NY.
* The Reebok Sports Club/NY offers rooftop in-line skating and running. Music-filled, junior Olympic size swimming pool for lap swimming. 40 -foot climbing wall. Two full-court, regulation-size basketball gymnasiums. State-of-the-art 13,000 SF coed weight-training gym. Cardiovascular deck with 5,000 SF of computerized training equipment. Challenges. Muscles and mind, recharged. Complete spa facilities including steam rooms, saunas and Jacuzzis. Large, luxurious locker rooms with towel service. Paul Lebrecque salon and spa. Exhaustive. Fitness evaluation center. Personalized instruction. Nutritional counseling. Child care center “For Kids Only.” Landscaped sundeck.
* Business amenities include: Multi-line telecommunications system with voicemail. Dataport for computer hookup. Fax machine in each residence. 24-hour business center. Conference room. Conference facilities at Reebok Sports Club/NY.

R.S.V.P. for a preview:
Jamie Knuckles
Nestseekers International
Cell:347-323-8671
Amenities
* The Phillips Club offers ownership membership as well as extended stay accommodations. These apartments can not be used as a permanent residence. This building is akin to owning a time share in lieu of staying at a hotel when in NYC.
* The Phillips Club is a member-owned luxury residence combining the advantages of home ownership with the conveniences of the city’s finest hotels, The Club offers unequaled amenities, service and privileges without recurring hotel expenses.
* The Phillips Club offers 24-hour concierge, daily maid service (nightly fee during use), and privileges at the Reebok Sports Club/NY.
* The Reebok Sports Club/NY offers rooftop in-line skating and running. Music-filled, junior Olympic size swimming pool for lap swimming. 40 -foot climbing wall. Two full-court, regulation-size basketball gymnasiums. State-of-the-art 13,000 SF coed weight-training gym. Cardiovascular deck with 5,000 SF of computerized training equipment. Challenges. Muscles and mind, recharged. Complete spa facilities including steam rooms, saunas and Jacuzzis. Large, luxurious locker rooms with towel service. Paul Lebrecque salon and spa. Exhaustive. Fitness evaluation center. Personalized instruction. Nutritional counseling. Child care center “For Kids Only.” Landscaped sundeck.
* Business amenities include: Multi-line telecommunications system with voicemail. Dataport for computer hookup. Fax machine in each residence. 24-hour business center. Conference room. Conference facilities at Reebok Sports Club/NY.

* Doorman
* Concierge
* Health Club
* Pool
* Elevator
* Garage

APARTMENT INFORMATION:
APARTMENT 5 BEDROOM Penthouse Duplex
Apt. #52G
RENT: $22458
BATHROOMS: 5.5

APARTMENT FEATURES:
All apartments have 9-foot high ceilings.
Most apartments with spectacular East River and/or cityscape views.
Marble bathrooms with marble topped vanities.
Individually controlled heat and air conditioning.
Every apartment features bay or corner windows.
Energy efficient, tinted dual-glazed windows.
White mini-blinds on all windows.
Private intercom system to doorman.
Individual electronic alarm system at each apartment entrance.
Many apartments include full-size washers and dryers.
Selection of cable television hook-ups available.
Full 8-foot high doors.
3/4 inch solid oak parquet floors.
Contemporary kitchens with side-by-side icemaker refrigerators, self-cleaning ovens, built-in microwaves, instant hot water dispensers and ceramic tile floors.
Many apartments feature windowed kitchens.
BUILDING FEATURES:
Landscaped building entrance, framed with limestone piers.
Elegant lobby with domed ceiling.
Attentive, uniformed doorman at your service 24-hours a day.
Beautifully decorated corridors with designer alabaster lighting fixtures and wall sconces, crown moldings and decorative wood-framed apartment entrance doors.
High-speed passenger elevators with separate service elevator.
Separate monitored service entrance, with attendant.
Attended indoor garage.
Package room with delivery escort.
Fully equipped, air conditioned laundry facility with closed circuit TV security.
Cheerfully designed children’s playroom.
Magnificent swim and fitness center with landscaped and furnished sun terrace.
55-foot lap swimming pool.
Fully equipped exercise and aerobics room.
Recreational lounge (with full kitchen facilities – ideal for private parties – by reservation.)
Men’s and women’s locker rooms, with separate saunas and showers.
Fully furnished conference room (by reservation).
PREVIEWS ARE AVAILABLE AT YOUR REQUEST!
TO SCHEDULE A VISIT R.S.V.P. for a VIP TOUR:
JAMIE KNUCKLES AT: 347-323-8671
Amenities
Full Service Luxury Building.

* Doorman
* Health Club
* Pool
* Roof deck
* Elevator

* Terrace
* Dining Room
* Fireplace
* Washer/Dryer
* Central A/C

We weren’t sure of the path.  The hiking guidebook we were using provided gems such as, “At the big rock, go around.” Or something similar.  We followed the stairs, which appeared to be new but styled to look ancient.  We passed our yoga studio, dipped into a valley, and climbed the side of the mountain once again.  We came to a huge shelf of sorts overlooking endless valleys below and for as far as we could see.

Who's comin' up around the bend?

The ancient Bedouin didn’t so much appear to us.  He was just, well, there.  “Would you like some tea? Maybe a hand-made necklace?”  I can’t decide if his business plan is genius or slightly insane.  Of course we had tea.  We hardly refuse it. I call this moment, “The Tea Sipped at the Top of the World.”  The sweet, sage-infused tea shared among friends grounded us atop this mountain.  We might not be following the guide book anymore, but it didn’t matter.  We had a Bedouin guide confirm we were on the right track.  He also knew where we had camped, that we had a fire late into the night, that we were American, and where we had hiked from.  News travels fast, and we weren’t exactly quiet.  After charging us one JD ($1.41) for each cup of tea, I noticed other hikers far behind us on the same route, and decided this old man’s business plan was genius.

He has the ultimate corner office. You should see the view out his window. It's what you get for being a genius businessman. Note the necklaces hanging from the tree.

We had to shimmy across a ledge from certain-death height.  After helping us across, we bid farewell to our tea provider and kept on.

To slip is to die

Petra was hewn from the rose-red sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan around 100BCE by the Nabataens.  It is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.  When you come visit me, we will go see it.

The Monastery -- first, if entering from the desert "behind" Petra.

I imagine trekkers on ancient trade routes entered the city of Petra much in the same way we did.  Coming from India, or China, or from wherever else, in caravans loaded with silk, spices, gold, they had probably heard of the magnificent city carved into stone, but unlike us, with internet and Indiana Jones films, did not know what to expect.  Then, though, the treasury was still a bank, and the monastery a sacred place, but I bet both of us stopped to drink it all in.  Residents of the area still trade, in trinkets and cups of coffee, in camel rides and five star hotel banquets.  Petra got rich from trade, and the money still pours in.  In 2007, a record number of tourists visited Petra (580,000!).

Sneak peak from the siq

For most, Petra is only accessible through a narrow set of gorges called siqs.  Being the bold backpackers that we are, we came in from the desert “behind” Petra.  Filthy and carrying our homes on our backs, we stood out against the inappropriately-dressed European tourists, flashing their skin and their cameras as they weightlessly explored the ancient site.  It was only a cup of tea by the time we were asked if we had tickets.  “No,” we said. “Is there a ticket booth in the desert from whence we came?”  The dread-locked Jordanian picked up his radio, and then told us we needed tickets.  We were aware, we told him, and kept walking.

The Treasury, made famous in Indiana Jones

Same thing the whole way through the valleys: an encounter with a guard, and then moving on, promising to pay at the entrance or just promising nothing and continuing on our way.  Each coming guard seemed to expect us. They probably knew we were coming a whole day before we arrived.  I bet our tea man was only one in a long chain of informants, probably more curious than concerned about whether or not we had a ticket.

Our luck ran out, though, and soon we were piled into the back of a pickup and escorted out of the ‘park’.  We were taken to the police station, and despite our best bargaining, we had to buy tickets at full foreigner price, somewhere near forty bucks.  I was pissed when I realized I had misinterpreted the truck driver: he would not be driving us back to where he picked us up because riding in trucks like that is “dangerous and forbidden”.  So we had to walk!  After five days of walking!  Can you believe it?

I learned something important that day.  When trying to cheap your way out of supporting the preservation of ancient historical sites by actually purchasing a ticket, make sure you do it inconspicuously.  Be clean.  Dress inappropriately, like the sexy Italian ladies.  Pretend not to understand Arabic or English.  Or any European language, for that matter, because there’s a guide or employee speaking most major languages of the world.  That, or wait until you get your temporary resident card, and then it’ll only cost you a JD or two to get in.  I got mine last week.

Ok, now onto blogging about more recent events.  I think I’ll skip Jerusalem and just move to Egypt next.  Thanks for reading – leave comments!

هذا الفيديو من إعداد و تصوير :

عبد الوهاب العريض من المملكة السعودية

كارم محمود من لبنان

حمدي قاسم من مصر

خالد الهلالي من اليمن

أمين كشلاف من تونس

]]> http://windblowing.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/in-jordan/ Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:36:14 +0000 John Hawbaker http://windblowing.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/in-jordan/

From November 28 to December 3 we are spending a week in Amman, the capital of Jordan. Visiting friends, meeting new people, and learning about the culture and religion, which is Islam.

Amman is a thoroughly modern city, with shopping malls similar to USA. Common USA restaurants are McDonald’s, Applebee’s, Fuddrucker’s and, recently opened, Chili’s.

Amman’s population – 1.3 million; Jordan’s population – 6 million. Languages: Arabic and English. Currency: Jordanian dinar (dee-NARR). One dinar equals $1.3 American dollars.

Weather: sunny days and chilly nights.

Homes, apartments and other buildings are made of light tan Jordanian stone.

Because there is so little wood in the homes, a house fire is usually not a major problem.

The apartments have spacious rooms. Usually the first room you enter is a large salon for entertaining guests.

We had lunch at Hashim’s restaurant downtown. Typical Jordanian food – hummus and other bean pastes, pita bread, sliced tomaotes, sliced cucumbers and sprigs of mint.

Oh, yes – and hot peppers, to which I said, “No, thanks.”

Here are a few scenes around the city.

No, you can’t drive off in this vintage vehicle. It is an in-place attraction for children…and adults.