Shopping in Jordan: Souvenirs & My Wish List

I bought this carpet in Petra Jordan. It is of a size that could also be a throw on the back of my couch or a wall hanging. (That's Charlie sitting on it.)

Shopping in Jordan won’t help you bring home the thrill of seeing Petra for the first time or the joy of the children I met in Jerash.

It can’t help you replicate your first taste of espresso with cardamon or the sounds of the men being called to prayer 5 times a day over the hills of Amman.

And shopping won’t let you pack the subtle beauty of Wadi Rum or the feeling of floating effortlessly in the Dead Sea.

However, shopping in Jordan can result in some wonderful items to cherish.

Shopping in Jordan: yes!

I’m not really a big shopper when I travel. After all, I travel light so I don’t like carrying a lot of things back with me. I also figure that I can get what I need at home.

However, what I need and what I want may be two different things. I have two weaknesses when I travel.

• Textile art
• Jewelery

Shopping for Carpets

I love textiles. Being in the middle east is like being in textile central! Rugs and carpets are everywhere and I managed to buy one.

The trick to buying a carpet, or any item for your home when you’re traveling, is having at least two potential places where it could be used. It’s important to buy something that you like and that will find a home in your home. Size may be difficult to guestimate. Color is a bit easier but may still be a challenge. That’s why having two possible uses for it is a good idea. The carpet above is now a runner in my bedroom.

I have already enjoyed wearing this necklace numerous times.

Shopping for Jewelery

Jewellery is a little easier than carpets. If it’s metal it will go with just about anything. If it has colored stones or jewels and you like the colors, you likely already have things it will go with. But think it through to confirm that it is an accent color that you can work with?

The carpet that got away.

In Jordan, jewellery is often sold from Noor Al Hussein Foundation supported stores. One of the objectives of the Foundation is to empower women to be income earners.

But you can’t always get what you want.

On the right is a rug that I fell in love with but my financial resources just couldn’t handle. At $5000, it was beyond my price range. They were willing to haggle of course, but when I said that couldn’t afford even half that amount they moved on to find another prospect.

Below is a piece of furniture that, again, I loved but it wasn’t for sale. Not that I could have afforded it anyway.

I have a perfect place for this wonderful piece of furniture but alas, it was in a restaurant, not for sale.

Shopping was certainly not the focus of my trip to Jordan but anyone would be hard pressed not to find a carpet or jewellery shop – my two weaknesses.

I was a guest of Visit Jordan on this trip. They did not influence the experiences or opinions I have chosen to share on Solo Traveler.

 Interested in other perspectives on Jordan? Check out:

Velvet Escape’s 10 Things to Do in Petra

Travel Dude’s Travel Tips for Jordan

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