12/29/2103

Back at Mariam hotel breakfast was delicious. Before the trip started I had hoped that breakfast would get better in subsequent hotels but coming back  really enjoyed it.  I took the airport shuttle to Amman with most of my other trip mates.  It is easier to get to the border crossing from Madaba but I hadn’t been to Amman and it was nice to spend a few more minutes telling stories. 

My trip back into Israel was more tedious but less problematic. I got a Taxi from the Amman airport to the border for 50JD it was more than I wanted to or expected to pay but it was worth it to take the bus ride with my friends. 

Here are a few more pictures of my trip: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29818882@N04/sets/72157639210064753/ 

I got to the border and had to walk through the first check point.  I got a visa/passport check and paid my exit fee(much less than it was the other way).

I was really lucky because I was the last passenger on the bus.  I have heard horror stories of waiting hours for the bus to fill up.

We drove across the King Hussain/Allenby Bridge and stopped for another 3 check points where they looked at our passports.  At one point the bus drive tried to skip the line, which upset one of the border guards so we had to sit in timeout for 15minutes. 

We got off the bus and got our luggage back.  Then we got in line to have the Israelis check our luggage.

Another 4 Passport checks and then we got our bags back.  One more check and I was free. 

I got a Sheruit to Jerusalem and arrived at the apartment I was renting around 3pm, Just 6.5hours after leaving Madaba.  I have heard that is about standard depending on bus and line times. 

When I got to the apartment they offered me tea and biscuits, which made my day. I went into the old city to look around a bit.  I ran into a local who showed me around the Christian quarter.