FUN-travel: Holy Land – Wadi Rum to Aqaba, Jordan w/transfer to Eilat, Israel – Day 6
April 5, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Holy Land – Wadi Rum to Aqaba, Jordan w/transfer to Eilat, Israel – Day 6
The ABC’s of The Holy Land
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Trip Day 60 – Saturday, March 30 – Wadi Rum to Aqaba, Jordan w/transfer to Eilat, Israel – sunny, breezy, high 80’s
Our Camp in Wadi Rum
- 7:30 – get up
- B – only powdered coffee,so drink tea
- 8:40 – jeep drive back to visitor center
- 9:00 – meet our driver Ali & continue on to Aqaba
- 10:00 – arrive & tour town – can see Saudi Arabia, Egypt & Israel across Red Sea
- 10:30 – Gloria Jean’s cappuccino break
Wadi Rum
- 12:00 – lunch – grilled grouper, pita, salad
- 1:30 – drive to border
- 1:45 – meet VP of tour company to assist in border crossing (has to get luggage carts from Israel side)
Wadi Rum “The Bridge”
- B – have to pay $12 pp for departure tax (already paid $30 pp for visas to enter)
- 2:00 – security check
- B – detect metal in 2 of our 5 bags – have to take everything out
- 2:45 – finally get through & met by our Israeli guide Colin
- 3:00 – arrive Blue Hotel
- A – free internet
- B – want a cold beer – it’s Kosher hotel & it’s Passover (so no yeast allowed – no beer or bread)
- 3:30 – Colin takes us 2 blocks to Eddies Hide-a-Way
- A – good really cold Stella Artois
- too tired for any more tours – desperately need to recharge my batteries
- 4:30 – take nap
- 6:30 – wake up for shower
- 7:30 – dinner @ Eddies Hide-a-Way – stuffed mushrooms – chef salad of pear, bleu cheese & walnuts – grilled salmon, Yarden Syrah – Israeli wine is pretty good
- 8:45 – Colin & wife Vickie join us – she orders liver pate & cheese cake, both VG (their son is Yuval is our waiter)
- A – great twinkle of city lights across the Red Sea of Aqaba
- 11:30 – fall into bed again
Wadi Rum Carvings
Jordan Recap – We should have stayed in Petra 3 nights which Stephen suggested inthe original itinerary. Each day was jammed full and we never got a rest, plus all of the driving was tiring. The hotels included breakfast and dinner (which they call half board) and we don’t think that is a good deal for us as we don’t eat that much food. It also doesn’t allow you to wander out and be part of the local experience.
FF – (FUN-fact) – We really liked Jordan and found the people to be extremely kind and caring. They like Americans and hope more will come to see their beautiful country.
Not so FF – We were warned to expect the Israel border crossing would be intense and it was.
Wadi Rum Sunset
FUN-travel: Holy Land – Petra to Wadi Rum, Jordan – Day 5
April 4, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Holy Land – Petra to Wadi Rum, Jordan – Day 5
The ABC’s of The Holy Land
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Trip Day 59 – Friday, March 29 – Petra to Wadi Rum, Jordan – full sun, warmer, high 80’s
Lunch in Wadi Rum
- 6:45 – wake up
- 7:00 – hot cappuccino & write postcards to grandkids
- C – we made it to our 6th New 7 Wonders of the World!
- 8:30 – packed up, ready to move on to next adventure – Ali our driver loads car
Little Petra
- 9:30 – drive to Little Petra – miniature version of Petra main city
- 9:45 – arrive Siq al Barid (“Little Petra”), the northern Nabatean suburb outside the bounds of the city of Petra – short walk includes simple temple, walk through gorge to facades of houses, temples, cisterns carved into rock face w/flights of steps shooting off in all directions
- 10:15 – depart for Wadi Rum
- 11:15 – hot tea break – way too touristy
- 12:30 – arrive first Wadi Rum camp for lunch
- 2:00 – arrive Wadi Rum visitor center to meet connection for overnight camp – transfer bags for 4X4 tour of moonscape terrain – T. E. Lawrence (AKA Lawrence of Arabia) described as “vast, echoing and God‐like”
- A – rock formation colors range from reddish orange to brown, to volcanic charcoal black, to sand white/beige
- A – outlandish shapes rise 2000’ from flat valley floor, like islands on sea of red sands
- 4:30 – arrive Wadi Rum Rum Stars Camp for dinner and overnight camping at fixed campsite – tent holds big bed w/room for luggage underneath – camp is @ full capacity of 35 people
Wadi Rum Rock Formations
- 6:15 – drive 25 mins for best sunset viewing
- 6:54 – sun sets
- 7:30 – dinner – variety of cold salads & zarb – chicken cooked underground – 3 tired round rack w/pot of vegetable stew on top
Little Petra,
- 8:30 – see moon rise & enjoy dazzling night skies
FF – (FUN-fact) – The erosion of the mountains over time creates shapes that have the appearance of everything from carved teak to dripping candle wax.
Not so FF – Days are too jamb packed with not enough time for R & R!