Active Woman Traveler

We arrived in Jordan at night on a flight from Paris.  We were tired, confused, incredibly jetlagged, and nervous. What would befall us in this crazy Middle Eastern land?

As we drove the long highway from the airport into Amman, wide-eyed and frightened, we couldn't help but notice fires burning openly along the side of the road.  What kind of ridiculous country had we dropped in to?  Open fires, burning tires, riots?  Our minds only jumped to the obvious conclusion.  We obviously were going to be attacked by terrorists wielding pitchforks and torches that would set fire to our village.

But then our driver pointed them out and said, "don't worry about the fires.  Those are just families picnicking."

...huh...

At closer inspection, we could make out mothers and fathers, kids, uncles, aunts.  The elderly and the young.  People cooking whole lambs and salads, appetizers and such on the side of the one main 6 lane highway in Jordan.

Apparently, the thing to do on a Saturday in Jordan was to take your family to the side of the road, start up a fire, cook some meat, and enjoy each other's company.  Oh, and the diesel fumes from the trucks traversing the country. 

And it wasn't just the poorer families that practiced this tradition.  We saw just as many Range Rovers on the side of the road as beat-up jalopy trucks.  The rich picnics looked no different than the poor ones, although I am sure the quality of the campfire was greater with those who could afford more sticks.

We never really understood the draw of a highway-side meal. But, in some strange way, I am sad I never got to try it out.

So, I hear that there's an especially lovely stretch of I-95 between the McDonalds at exit 120 and the Burger King at exit 150 .  Anyone want to join me in a gourmet roadside lunch?  I'll bring the lamb.

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Sarah Marshall (The Travel Mommy) fell in love with the Middle East the night she ate at a world class fish restaurant in the Port of Aqaba, accompanied by her husband, her diving partner, and a Bedouin and his camel. To Marshall, world travel is about embracing world cultures and immersing yourself in them.  From attending a Palestinian wedding in a refugee camp to being the guest of honor at a Bedouin banquet, Marshall incorporates native culture into her own, no matter how unfamiliar. You can read more of Sarah's experiences at The Travel Mommy.  She currently is a freelance writer on the topics of travel, family, and special needs parenting for such sites as the former DC Metro Moms, Hopeful Parents and others.