En route to Jordan and the hidden city of Petra - words cant describe what we found
Thursday 23rd January
Another early morning to watch us arrive in Aqaba, Jordan. Sun shining and the sky and sea are both gloriously blue. We have to be in the theatre by 8.30, so that we can be herded into groups for each bus. But we have a good hearty breakfast, just to ensure we don’t starve whilst away from our floating eatery. The procedure was fairly straight forward, but the area for holding us was exceedingly congested. Nevertheless we soon were aboard our bus with our guide, driver and minder. We set off on modern highways through a westernised city, presumably Influenced by the late King, Hussein, who was educated at Oxford and was a true advocate of the British way of life. We climbed through the mountains with snow on either side of the road. It was fortunate that we had layered our cloths, as it was freezing outside.
Nevertheless the journey was amazing, albeit exasperatingly long and drawn out, with comfort stops making it even longer. With freezing fog obliterating the views as we neared the city.
After two and half hours we reached the dropping off point outside the Petra Palace hotel. Then a slow walk to the entrance of the ancient hidden city of Petra and another wait for the elderly to catch up and a further wait for the ladies to queue in line for the toilet. Judith and l where champing at the bit, but we were not allowed to leave the group until we had passed through the entrance as a group. Eventually we managed to get away and scamper ahead, passing group after group until we were so far ahead we saw clean air.
The views were spell binding, absolutely unbelievable, truly mind blowing. The colours, the vastness and the architecture. It was just so huge, so much larger than l had anticipated. It went on for miles, and when you consider that only 15% of the city is visible and the remainder is just under the surface to be excavated, the original city must have been massive. A trading hub on the frankincense route from the Yemen.
Words and photos do not do it justice, it is just truly magnificent. In fact you could spend a good few days walking around the site and still miss gems.
Petra was the winter home, whilst the summer palace was in Arabia, and it originated well before Christ was born, dating around 300BC. It was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Accessed via a narrow canyon called Al Siq, it contains tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone cliffs, often referred to as the "Rose City." Perhaps its most famous structure is 45m-high Al Khazneh, a temple with an ornate, Greek-style facade, and known as The Treasury. They literally cut into the sandstone to make the temples, palaces and homes. Using the extracted stone to build other buildings. Unbelievable.
We climbed up to the monastery, but after a one hour climb, and only five minutes away from our objective, we turned back. We couldn’t be late returning to the hotel or the bus. We had been given strict instructions that the meal would be available until 4.30pm and the bus would depart sharp on 4.45pm
We only just made it back to the hotel on time. Had a glorious selection of salads, including four different types of olives, thick local olive oil and locally grown tomatoes and cucumbers. Followed by lamb with a delicate yet spicy rice and moussaka. To follow, we tried five different types of pastries, sweet delights. For a people who don’t eat sweets or puddings, the pistachio sweet meats warranted seconds, washed down with coffee. Believe it or not, we still managed to get back to the bus on time.
Another long journey back to the ship, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that Cunard had laid on champagne at the port for our arrival. Very refreshing, and totally unexpected. And what a reception for the 700 plus guests arriving home from their tours in Jordan.
Another early morning to watch us arrive in Aqaba, Jordan. Sun shining and the sky and sea are both gloriously blue. We have to be in the theatre by 8.30, so that we can be herded into groups for each bus. But we have a good hearty breakfast, just to ensure we don’t starve whilst away from our floating eatery. The procedure was fairly straight forward, but the area for holding us was exceedingly congested. Nevertheless we soon were aboard our bus with our guide, driver and minder. We set off on modern highways through a westernised city, presumably Influenced by the late King, Hussein, who was educated at Oxford and was a true advocate of the British way of life. We climbed through the mountains with snow on either side of the road. It was fortunate that we had layered our cloths, as it was freezing outside.
Nevertheless the journey was amazing, albeit exasperatingly long and drawn out, with comfort stops making it even longer. With freezing fog obliterating the views as we neared the city.
Words and photos do not do it justice, it is just truly magnificent. In fact you could spend a good few days walking around the site and still miss gems.
Petra was the winter home, whilst the summer palace was in Arabia, and it originated well before Christ was born, dating around 300BC. It was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Accessed via a narrow canyon called Al Siq, it contains tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone cliffs, often referred to as the "Rose City." Perhaps its most famous structure is 45m-high Al Khazneh, a temple with an ornate, Greek-style facade, and known as The Treasury. They literally cut into the sandstone to make the temples, palaces and homes. Using the extracted stone to build other buildings. Unbelievable.
We climbed up to the monastery, but after a one hour climb, and only five minutes away from our objective, we turned back. We couldn’t be late returning to the hotel or the bus. We had been given strict instructions that the meal would be available until 4.30pm and the bus would depart sharp on 4.45pm
We only just made it back to the hotel on time. Had a glorious selection of salads, including four different types of olives, thick local olive oil and locally grown tomatoes and cucumbers. Followed by lamb with a delicate yet spicy rice and moussaka. To follow, we tried five different types of pastries, sweet delights. For a people who don’t eat sweets or puddings, the pistachio sweet meats warranted seconds, washed down with coffee. Believe it or not, we still managed to get back to the bus on time.
Another long journey back to the ship, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that Cunard had laid on champagne at the port for our arrival. Very refreshing, and totally unexpected. And what a reception for the 700 plus guests arriving home from their tours in Jordan.
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