There are two major ancient sites in Jordan close to the city of Aqaba and both are worth every moment of your time. Many of our fellow passengers combined the two into a very tiring day. We decided to forgo one for the other by promising ourselves we would return one day.
Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is an amazing archaeological site located deep in the desert in Jordan. Half carved from rock and half built by man it dates back to over 2000 years ago. It’s most recognized landmark is the impressive Treasury which was the filming location of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Although breathtaking this is a bit of a walk in and out so be prepared.
We decided instead to spend our day instead touring Wadi Rum, the desert in Jordan. Our excursion involved sitting in the back of open air trucks as we drove through the stunning landscape of the desert. We made numerous stops at Bedouin camps for boiled coffee and tea (and souvenirs), and at impressive historical venues such as the petroglyphs and the site of negotiations for peace between the warring tribes during WWI. Our guide David regaled us with stories of his home country along the way.
The sheer expanse of the desert sands and rock formations, the clear blue sky and the cool crisp morning air made this one of the most magical experiences. Despite our best efforts the pictures and videos that we took do not do it justice. We climbed sand dunes to get better views and ducked between rugged formations of granite and sandstone to escape the sun. The Bedouins were hospitable and offered what they had to those of us who visited.
The highlight for Ken was the opportunity to ride a camel in a caravan between one stop and the next, something he enjoyed and was able to cross off his bucket list. For me just watching the process of mounting and dismounting the camel was a highlight. Although domesticated the animals still retained all the spunk you could imagine.
You will know Wadi Rum as it is a common filming location for classics such as Lawrence of Arabia, Star Wars, Dune, the Martian and, of course, the live action Aladdin. The camp pictured was the actual location of the peace negotiations orchestrated by T.E. Lawrence and depicted in the film. There remains a rock carving showing his likeness along with that of Prince Faisal.
Tourism remains a big draw for the inhabitants of the area. For the adventurous among you there are camps located throughout the desert where you can stay. We stopped by one for a snack of dates, sesame cookies and tea or coffee before heading back into Aqaba.
Once back in the city we made a stop to do some shopping. Nuts, dates and alcohol were available along with all the kitschy souvenirs you could imagine. It did allow us to see some of the city however and who doesn’t need just a little something to remember it by.
Too often we focus on cultural and historical sites. This was an excursion that allowed us to marvel at the beauty of nature and come home with a little sand in our shoes. Who wouldn’t want that to be part of any travels?