Lace• Summer• Travel

Our First Trip to Irbid & Why it May Be Our Last

July 16, 2018

Last weekend we took a day trip north of Amman to check out the city of Irbid, Jordan. We had high hopes since it looked pretty from some of the photos I’d seen online, but unfortunately it didn’t turn out to be very pleasant. I usually don’t like to post anything negative on my blog but felt the need to be honest about our experience. As a blonde Westerner in the Middle East, I obviously stand out and have grown accustomed to second glances and stares in certain areas. Let me preface this by saying I realize I was wearing a sleeveless top, which shows more skin than most locals expose. However, I was by no means dressed in a ‘scandalous’ fashion, especially compared to what most Westerners wear. We’ve simply never experienced the same level of interest and outright harassment anywhere else in Jordan as we did in Irbid.Our bad experience began when we first parked our vehicle. I was at the back getting out Lila’s stroller when a boy rode by on a bicycle and said something in Arabic that didn’t sound pleasant. I brushed it off and we went about our business to go find some lunch in town. As we were walking down the street, we passed three teenage boys who began staring at me, only to have my husband turn around and catch them making some really obscene gestures behind our backs. Although my husband was extremely angry, we brushed it off again and went on our way.

After lunch we took photos in the town square and a gentleman approached us to recommend other good spots for taking photos, which was very kind. But after that, we were approached by a group of about five boys that began circling my husband, who was pushing Lila in her stroller. Even though they’re little, crowds of kids can be the scariest to deal with because they’re so unpredictable and grow brave in numbers. No matter how many times we tried to wave them away, they kept following us, and one of them even went so far as to throw a cup at my husband and Lila! Neither of us may speak Arabic, but my husband and I were savvy enough to know that whatever they were saying wasn’t friendly. That was the final straw and we quickly made our way back to the vehicle before the situation could escalate further. I wish I could recommend Irbid to others planning a trip to Jordan, but sadly cannot after my negative experience. However, I highly encourage anyone to visit Amman–it’s a great, modern city and I promise you’ll feel welcome there!Moving on from Irbid to talk about this outfit—how pretty is this eyelet top? Believe it or not, it’s only $14! The cropped peplum hem makes it the ideal match for a pair of high waist skinny jeans. Attention all Brahmin fans: this gorgeous new satchel is included in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! This neutral color will span the seasons for year-round wear and the size is perfect for daily use—I’ve been carrying it nonstop since it arrived.Hope your week is off to a wonderful start and thanks for visiting today!