Aqaba

Behind bars at the ferry terminal

We left Egypt by ferry from Nuweiba down the the Gulf of Aqaba to the city of Aqaba. We were met by Ayman, our guide for Jordan.  This is the same port that was taken by Lawrence of Arabia with the help of the Arabs. This is a duty free zone city. Jordan is clean compared to Egypt.

Saudi Arabia

We left for the Wadi Rhum (means valley of the unconnected mountains) for a tour in the desert. Using four-wheel drive trucks, we toured natural bridges, petroglyphs, and stopped for tea at a Bedouin camp.

Sand angels

How high can you jump?

Petroglyphs

Afternoon tea in a Bedouin Tent

Well used to collect water off the rocks by chipping channels in the rock to divert the water runoff towards the well

Camel tracks 

Later in the afternoon, we arrived at a Bedouin camp for supper and to spend the night. That evening, we went for a moonlit walk out in the desert to look at the stars and enjoy tea.  We gathered wood for the fire and got the fire going.  Our guide then boiled up the water and made tea.  It was peaceful sitting under a rocky outcrop watching the sky, drinking tea, and listening to stories from our guide and our fellow travellers.  Back at the camp, some of our fellow travellers slept by the fire, and the rest of us slept in tents snuggled under heavy blankets and quilts.

The same railway blown up by Laurence of Arabia

Flatbed rail car probably used in a movie with two machine gun supports and sandbags for protection

The steam engine was tarped

David and I decided we would like to come back to Wadi Rhum, and spend more time exploring and camping in the desert. Tomorrow we drive to Petra. We leave an area all of us found profound.