Sunset in Wadi Rum desert, Jordan.
beiruti frog She has been working for several years –and receiving awards– with her particular profile as an architect and manager of cultural industries. She was part of the team Darat al-Funun, where she was already pointing out ways in terms of defending local young talent. Shortly thereafter, the address of Amman Design Week, a biannual immersion event in the culture and design of Jordan, where local artisans, young designers participate and that had more than 90,000 attendees in its last edition.
This interview is part of "The World Made Local", a global project of Condé Nast Traveler in the seven international editions, which gives voice to 100 people in 100 countries to discover why their own territory should be your next destination.
What is your favorite hobby?
In my childhood I spent a lot of time outdoors. He was always riding his bike, in the pool or in a nearby park. Today I still need it and hike with local groups like Treks. Or do I run away Dibbeen Forest Reserve or to Birgesh Forest in northern Jordan, to spend time in nature. The views are spectacular and can be enjoyed all year round. When I travel abroad, what I miss the most is food. Especially at breakfast time, because the cuisine of the eastern zone is healthy, delicious and fresh and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Or my favorite traditional cuisine restaurant, Fakhreldine:
The director of Amman Design Week, Rana Beiruti.
What places should someone visiting the city for the first time visit?
There is a lot to do in Amman. But the first thing I recommend is a walking tour of the city . Start with breakfast at Wild Jordan , in Jabal Amman , with views of the entire city, to then walk through this neighborhood where there are houses from the 1930s and 1940s, very beautiful architecturally. Then walk downhill to the old city center and through the markets to reach the Roman part, stopping at the nymphaeum (ancient Roman baths) and in the Roman amphitheater. If you like the art scene, you have to visit the Jabal Al Weibdeh neighborhood, which is home to a plethora of art galleries, studios, cafes, and concept stores. Although it is an uphill walk you can enjoy some of the murals and artwork along the way by climbing the stairs of Kalha, and go through the art exhibitions and the remains of the byzantine church, in Darat al-Funun. The best time of day to visit the amman citadel it is in the late afternoon or just before sunset. It's also nice to hear the echoes of the call to evening prayer from high above the city. Of course, you shouldn't leave Jordan without visiting Petra. It takes my breath away every time I go.
What to do at night?
You can eat something or drink something nice inn or enjoy its many rooftop bars and restaurants with views, such as loft either District, with stunning views of the city.
Jordan's best kept secret is...
The tiraz museum, one of those hidden gems, my favourite, the world's largest collection of traditional costumes and textiles from all over the Levant and the Gulf that tell the story of the region and in particular the story of women.
What would you like people to know about Jordan, but they usually don't?
Although Jordan is a relatively small country, with a mainly Mediterranean climate, it is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with five different bioclimatic zones ranging from dense lush forests in the north to arid deserts in the east and south. Biological reserves and protected areas have been created in an effort to conserve the natural landscape, its fauna and flora. And you can visit the Ajloun, Yarmouk and Dibbeen Forest Reserves, or spend the night looking at the stars in the Feynan Ecolodge or in the unique and magical deserts of Wadi Rum.