Monday 17 June 2013 - Aqaba, Jordan (Petra)

sms from mum =
Yes I have my two water bottles, we are just arriving in port at Aquaba harbour.

sms later in the day =
Petra was wonderful I am working on an email.

email from Mum =
We arrived in Aqaba, Jordans port city. Looks like a modern city today, nice wide roads, huge round-a-bouts, and modern buses. We had a 2 hour drive to Petra, from the sea high up in the mountain 1500m above sea level. Most of the time we travelled on the main highway toward Syria, then turned left onto the Kings Highway. We saw many wild camels along the road, also flocks of goats and their shepherds, mostly old men or young boys.

There were several Bedouin Camps along the road. They normally move twice a year, in spring and in autumn. The Bedouin camps were in the mountains near Petra. We saw several, with herds of goats with their minders nearby, and the wild camels were roaming along the road as well.

To reach Petra we had to travel down fairly steep roads, not very wide either although there was room for our bus and some trucks to pass. Imagine 30-40 min down Bulli Pass. We were let off the bus and then had to walk from there, first 1 km to the ticket office and gate, then steeper down to the entrance of the Siq. There were horses, horses with carts and donkeys available, these theoretically free with your ticket, but.... "a little extra from your heart?" (donations)

I decided to walk downhill as that was the easist. We could walk at our own pace, but tried to follow our guide who gave us information as we went. The Siq is 4-5 m wide, 200m high, a narrow passage between the walls. Quite amazing that no one got hurt with so many people walking, the horsemen galloping back and forth picking up fares and the carts trotting past. The donkeys were more sedate. There were lots of engravigs and tombs, part of the Siq had a water trough running along one of the walls. I got as far as the Tresury and decided I had enough, there was more to see, but it will have to wait for another time. I said hello to the Treasury Cat. A lady from my dining table fed him some cake and it disappeared quickly.

I took a number of photos on the way in, but needed to sit down and drink more water and have a rest before returning. I made good use of the benches along the Siq s we returned as did many others. Out of the Siq we had another rest. We were now out in the open and full sun and when I got an offer of a ride up to the top I gave in. It felt good sitting on a horse again. My heart may not have been as generous as my mate was hoping for, but...

When we arrived at the hotel lunch was ready, late lunch as it was around 3pm, and we had only water in the meantime. The food was quite good and we all got a free bottle of water. I saw several people ask for extra water. Before returning to the ship we had a little time for shopping, I got some fridge magnets and some cards which unfortunately I did not get a chance to post. I managed to post them in Ashdod after the people selling stamps were very late, people vere grumbling.

 

 

 



 Aqaba, Jordan (Petra)

The port of Aqaba has been an important strategic and commercial center for over three millennia. Originally called Elath, the home of the Edomites became in Roman times a trading center where goods from as far away as China found entry to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Today Aqaba is Jordan's only seaport, and the city serves as an intriguing gateway for travelers. In the surrounding desert lies the lost city of Petra - a city that may date to 6,000 B.C. - and Wadi Rum, where an English soldier mystic named T.E. Lawrence found his destiny as "Lawrence of Arabia."

Perched at the apex of the Gulf of Aqaba, Aqaba offers internationally renowned diving opportunities and the richest marine life in the entire Red Sea. The old fortress on the waterfront dates to the 14th-century.

this pic from google images