Mar 10, 2011 | Jordan

Tourism in Jordan has been cut in half this year because of turmoil throughout the Arab world. Despite the country's reputation for being a safe, stable place in a particularly rough neighborhood, the revolution in Egypt means package tours of Egypt-Jordan-Israel are being cancelled by the tens of thousands. Bev and I stuck with our sketchy plan and rented a car upon arrival in Amman, traveling the length of the country in 10 days. We probably passed through three dozen checkpoints, which is no surprise when the road is being shared with vehicles from Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Palestinian territories.