We left our Israeli Adventure behind and crossed the border into Jordan. Though hot and trying for those pulling two suitcases and more, we had no troubles crossing between the international boundary at Aqaba. Here our new guide, Hisham, met us with our new driver. We quickly loaded all the luggage onto the bus and set out for the Wadi Rum.
Wadi Rum is the name of a large national park area of Jordan that is a desert as vast as it is beautiful. We viewed a short film on the region, then split into groups of 5-6 and climbed into the back of 4x4 pickups with slightly padded seats but a blessed awning. We slid and slew our way through the desert sands, hitting a few bumps on the way, having a few laughs, sweating a lot, but awed by the grandeur of the hills rising around us. Here Lawrence of Arabia (T.E.Lawrence) joined forced with the Bedouin trips united under Faisel bin Hussein of Mecca against the Ottoman Turks. With British backing the forces raided trains and depots and garrisons in the region and ultimately created a larger scale Arab Revolt that helped end World War One.
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| Ancient Glyphs at Wadi Rum |
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| The Caravan Departs |
We enjoyed a short respite and our first Jordanian tea in a Bedouin-style camp. Eight brave souls boarded camels for part of the journey and can say they have caravaned in the desert! From ancient gylphs carved into the sandstone to the rising cliffs that towered around us, we were amazed. We enjoyed a Jordanian buffet lunch and some cooler air in the visitors' center before boarding the bus and working our way north to the Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses) and the city of Petra. After a bit of a delay, everyone is now in their rooms or enjoying the pool, some the Turkish baths and massage, and others walking the city.
Tomorrow, the World Heritage site of Petra, a Caravan City of the Nabateans. Stay tuned!
Wadi Rum is the name of a large national park area of Jordan that is a desert as vast as it is beautiful. We viewed a short film on the region, then split into groups of 5-6 and climbed into the back of 4x4 pickups with slightly padded seats but a blessed awning. We slid and slew our way through the desert sands, hitting a few bumps on the way, having a few laughs, sweating a lot, but awed by the grandeur of the hills rising around us. Here Lawrence of Arabia (T.E.Lawrence) joined forced with the Bedouin trips united under Faisel bin Hussein of Mecca against the Ottoman Turks. With British backing the forces raided trains and depots and garrisons in the region and ultimately created a larger scale Arab Revolt that helped end World War One.
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