Orientation

Getting lost and confused is part of all travel (how else would Columbus have ended up in North America?), but here it's noteworthy. My friend John says that it takes an average of 6 tries asking for directions to get the correct ones. I did better. In the Abu Dhabi airport, I asked the way to the Ticketting Office. The security guard pointed confidently and said "straight". When I reached another, I repeated my request. The second guard, pointing in the way I had just come, said "straight". The second one, although incorrect about going straight, was correct in the general diecrtion. But they do pretty well for a city with no formal addressing system.

When I landed at the Amman airport in Jordan, I arrived into a typical arrivals hall: cafe, money changer, info desk. I crossed the street to the buildling marked "Departures" and walked into the same room: cafe, money changer, info desk. Even the same mural on the wall. For a moment I wondered if I had accidentally turned myself around. But it was actually another arrivals area! Too strange.