These days, most Bedouin have given up their nomadic life style for one of more permanency, but the women are still weaving their handmade threads restoring ancient geometric designs and long-standing scenes of cultural life.

This is an antique Bedouin hat I purchased today. It is quite unique with the beaded star flaps on the side. The intricate embroidery on the crown is so delicate, I think it was a good find. I bought it at a shop dealing in tourist trinkets and I  found a shelf with a few of these beauties…

I walked away many times until I got the price I needed…

It will be a treasured piece in my collection.

Its photographed on an Pakistani Ralli quilted shawl that I purchased in Houston.

The other textiles I found today were the Bedouin style tents that are woven from Goat hair.

The tent, synonymous with traditional Bedouin life, is the woman's responsibility and normally she would weave her family's home from goat and camel hair. Not only the design, but the yarn used to create these tents needs to stand up to extreme desert weather conditions. It usually comprises two sections which is divided by a manad – a woven curtain. Most guests will be invited into the men’s area known as magad or sitting place, while the women congregate in the maharama: the place of the women. In this area they also cook, eat and work on their handicrafts. The tent is usually full of woven and beaded decoration, all designed by these highly creative women but the ones we entered today were set up to sell goodies outside the entrance of the Castles we went to today.

The wandering Bedouin who live in the Arabian Peninsula live in black tents which are usually about 10 meters long and 4 meters wide. These tents consist of several strips of cloth sewn together which can be added to or reduced according to the needs of the family. The tent is pitched on three parallel lines of poles. Usually, one side is left open and it is always anchored firmly enough with taut ropes to stand up to the fiercest winds.

The material for the tent is thick and hard-wearing. It is woven by the women on rough looms from goat and camel hair.

We visited a little but I declined a puff on the Narghile

In the western part of Amman, its capital, "coffee-shops" with wide terraces and a sophisticated decoration are numerous because people living in the corresponding zones can afford to frequent them, but the narghile is not a slave to wealth. It is popular with men, women, rich and poor.

Dasr El Kharaneh and 8th century fort.

We took all day to  visit to three, 8th century castles today.

We had a close shave with disaster as a huge truck missed us by inches as it veered head on to our side of the road. I think the driver was asleep, and our driver swerved just in time  Keith let out a large expletive !!!!! justifiably so.

Several of them are currently being restored.