JORDAN SHOPPING

JORDAN SHOPPING

SHOPPING HOURS: Sat-Thurs 0930–1330 and 1530–1800; some open as early as 0800 and close at 2000. Shops are closed Friday except for the souk.

Every town will have a souk (market), and there are also many good craft and jewelry shops. There is a particularly good gold and jewelry market in Amman. Special items include Hebron glass, mother-of-pearl boxes, pottery, backgammon sets, embroidered tablecloths, jewelled rosaries and worry beads, nativity sets made of olive woo, leather hassocks, old and new brass and copper items, and caftans hand-embroidered with silver and gold thread. Jordan is famous for its gold and silver; the center of Amman has a gold souk with over 50 shops. Necklaces with a small golden coffee pot (dalleh, a national symbol) are popular and widely available.

Traveller’s Cheques

Those issued by UK banks are accepted by licensed banks and bureaux de change. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars.

CURRENCY

Currency Information: Dinar (JOD; symbol JD) = 100 piastres or 1,000 fils. Notes are in denominations of JD50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 500 fils. Coins are in denominations of JD1, ½ and ¼; 10, 5, 2 and ½ piastres; and 1 and ½ qirsh.

BANKING HOURS

Sat-Thurs 0830–1500. Hours during Ramadan are 0830–1000, although some banks open in the afternoon.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE

Foreign currencies can be exchanged easily in banks and bureaux de change. Most hotels also provide exchange facilities. The daily exchange rates are published in local