Aqaba,Jordon

4.23.2007 Aqaba,Jordon-Petra

Today we are looking forward to returning to Petra which has been added to the list of 7 Greatest Wonders of the World. After a very interesting two hour bus ride north along the Desert Highway through hills and desert quite different than our longer ride to Luxor, we arrived and started our walk down that led us to the famous ½ mile long chasm(or siq). This long narrow gorge with steeply rising sides all but obliterates the sun.

More than 2000 years ago, this site was occupied by the Nabateans. From caves in a rocky outcrop, they created their fortress city. The siq served as a defense as well as part of an incredible water system for the city of Petra.

As you exit the gorge, it suddenly opens into a natural square dominated by Petra’s most famous monument, The Treasury. It’s intricately carved façade presents a wonderful sight in the dazzlingly sun. This scene is familiar to anyone who saw the movie,” Indiana Jones” or the” Last Crusade” Because we only had three hours and the tour is all walking our guide took his time and gave detailed explanations which meant that the group only got as The Treasury. The city that lies just beyond many impressive structures carved out of the rose colored stone. They include temples, royal tombs and an amphitheatre that could seat 3000 spectators. The Petra basin boasts over 800 individual monuments. Because we had been there before, Sallie and I left the group early during the tour and walked ahead so that we could revisit more of the city. The long walk back in the early afternoon’s heat, which wasn’t as bad as the day before, but it was uphill and tiring. Some in our group chose to go in and out by horseback or horse drawn carriages. I offered the this option to Sallie but she hung in there and we made it back to the 5 Star Movenpic Hotel where we revived ourselves at lunch. This hotel is the same one we stayed in when we were there in 2000 with John & Wendy. At that time the Hotel had just opened. When we finally got back to the ship, dressed for dinner and made the mistake of attending the pre dinner entertainment. This was the low part of our trip.

Based on an agent’s recommendation the ship had hired a belly dancer, singer and 2 musicians to provide folk entertainment appropriate for the geographic location we were in. The dancer was overweight and disgusting to the audience. Most of the audience politely stayed but Sallie and I, as well as a few others, walked out. Sallie went to the suite to order dinner in and I ran into our 97yr old friend, Ilsa Smith who didn’t have dinner plans ,so she joined The West’s and myself for dinner. We each had 2 courses but she had three, although her entree was vegetarian. Guess that’s the secret of long life. Everyone on ship is fighting the weight problem and I daily remind myself of Griff Holland’s suggestion that we each weigh before leaving and give him $100.which he would hold and reward to the one who gained less during the trip. Considering the variety, quantity and quality of the food and drink that we are beautifully served, we are fortunate that all four of us are still able to get into our clothes

4.24.2007 Aqaba, Jordon.

Today we decided to take it easy and not go on one of the available tours but rather to take the shuttle into town and walk around. When we were in Jordon in 2000, we spend a ,night its capital, Amman, and one in Petra but we never got to Aqaba- Jordon’s only seaport and for this reason it is of tremendous importance to the country’s economy. Jordon is one of the most fascinating destinations in the Middle East. The country is not blessed with rich oil supplies; its treasurers lie in the beauty of the land and a unique combination of antiquities, natural environment and traditions. The rose red City of Petra and the captivating desert of Wadi Rum draw millions of tourists each year making tourism very important to the country.

In 1917, T.E.Lawernce, a young British officer, convinced several feuding Bedouin tribes that they should band together and unite in taking the city of Aqaba from the hated Ottoman occupiers by a surprise attack from the dessert driving them into the sea. By the end of WWI Aqaba had been turned over to Jordon thus ending a long history of landlords beginning with King Solomon in pre-Biblical times. Between Solomon and Lawrence came the Romans, the Byzantines, the Crusaders, the Muslims, the Crusaders again, the Muslims again, the Sultans of Egypt and for four centuries the Ottomans.Each left behind a touch of culture and a rich history.

After Sallie and I had walked through a shopping area and bought something to wear at tonight’s Egyptian dress up night she returned to the ship by shuttle and I hired a local taxi to show me around town. For the next 1 ½ hours I had my eyes opened. I saw the old area of town and the new which is growing rapidly and beautifully. From the port you can see the countries of Egypt, Israel and we drove south for about 20 miles along the coast of the Red Sea to the Saudi Arabian border. The port activity is impressive and the development of big resort areas along the coast is dramatic. This area is famous for its scuba diving sites in the Red Sea. My driver could not praise King Abdul enough saying what a great job he is doing in building the country. I really enjoyed my taxi ride and my driver, Hakam Ahmad.

For dinner we were asked to dress up in Egyptian dress and most of the passengers did. In addition the dinning room had been decorated with beautiful Egyptian paintings, statues and etc. It was really something. In addition ,all the wait staff were dressed for the occasion and everyone was taking everyone’s picture. After dinner Sallie and I went up to the Panorama Lounge and got into a very interesting discussion with a widow from England who thinks the world is suffering from too many trying to change the lives of too many-most who are happy with their lives as they already have.