Today the ship arrived in Aqaba, Jordan. As Jordan's only sea access, Aqaba has played an important role in the country's history. Ayla, the first Islamic city on the Arabian Peninsula, was built here around the year 610 and served as a trading port between India and the Mediterranean. The city finally succumbed to earthquake damage and attacks by the Crusaders around 1116. It became a quiet fishing village only to be restored to prominence during World War I when T. E. Lawrence (of Larwence of Arabic fame) and the local forces he commanded took it back from the Ottomans. Two hours from Aqaba, Petra, Jordan's famous 'lost city' lies hidden in a valley where it had been forgotten for 1,000 years. Built by the Nabatean people around 312 BCE, the city was carved into pinkish-colored cliffs which let to its nickname "The Rose Red City." It was a center of caravan trade between Egypt and Persia. The city was absorbed into the Roman Empire around the year 100 CE. It was unknown to Westerners until 1812 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Petra is the location of incredible monuments including the Treasury, Greek Theater, Royal Tombs and Qasr Al Bint, the only freestanding structure in the 'lost city.' The town of Aqaba has 140,000 people and Jordan has 7 million people. 86% of Jordan is Desert and 1/2 of the people in Jordan is Palastine.
At 8:15 I left on a tour called "Petra: the Rose Red City". On the road to Petra we passed some small villages and some irrigated fields which the tour guide said they planted tomatos. They get the water from a large source go ground water located near the border of Jordan and Saudi Arabia. At 9:25 AM we left the 4 lane road and turned onto a two lane road to Petra. At 9: 30 AM we stopped for a break and at 9:45 AM we arrived in Petra and got off the bus and walked toward the entrance to the site where we got there at 10:50 AM. Our tour begins with a wall through the Sig where we saw the remains of water channels, carvings and representation of Nabataean gods. The narrow passage was and adventure in itself tor the towering walls create an artificial gloom until we suddenly emerge into the blinding light and there before us was the Treasury, the first glimpse of the Rose Red City. We walked 25 minutes to get to the Sig and our walk thru the Sig was for another 1/2 hour before we got to the Treasury. We spent some time viewing the Treasury and we walked for another 10 minutes before we got to the area of the Theater. Some of the group walked passed the theater and into the next section. I did not go on this extestion and after some time I started on a 45 minute walk back to the enterance and on to the hotel where we had lunch. I got to the hotel at 2 PM and we left the hotel for return to the ship. We made a picture and rest stop and we got back to the ship at 5:30 PM. I was tired when I got back because of all of the walking but the trip to Petra was great.
At 6 PM the ship left Aqaba, Jordan to get to a position to get thru the Suez Canal. Because on lane of the Suez Canal, the ship scheduled a fast speed to get to the entrance to the Suez Canal.
After dinner Adam Westcott who played classical music.
Before are part 1 of 2 pictures taken the Aqaba, Jordan and on my tour to Petra.
This picture was taken near the Greek Theater.
This picture was taken near the Greek Theater.
This picture was taken near the Greek Theater.
This picture was taken near the Greek Theater.
This picture was taken near the Greek Theater.
This picture was taken near the Greek Theater.
This picture was taken after arriving back at the Treasury.
This picture was taken near the Treasury.
This picture was taken on the way back to the entrance.
This picture was taken on the way back to the entrance.
This picture was taken on the way back to the entrance.
This picture was taken on the way back to the entrance.
This picture was taken on the way back from the entrance to the hotel where we had lunch.
This picture was taken on the way back from the entrance to the hotel where we had lunch.
This picture was taken in the hotel where we had lunch.
This picture was taken in the hotel where we had lunch.
This picture was taken of the town near the hotel where we had lunch.
This is a picture of the town near the hotel where we had lunch.
This is a picture of the hotel where we had lunch.
This picture was taken of the town near the hotel where we had lunch.
This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to the ship.
This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to the ship.
This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to the ship.
This picture was taken at a rest stop on the way back to the ship.
This picture was taken at a rest stop on the way back to the ship. This is the same dance of mountains as at Petra.
This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to the ship.
This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to the ship.
This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to the ship.
This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to the ship. This picture was taken in Aqaba.
This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to the ship. This picture was taken in Aqaba.
This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to the ship. This picture was taken in Aqaba.
This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to the ship. This picture was taken in Aqaba.
This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to the ship. This picture was taken in Aqaba.
This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to the ship. This picture was taken in Aqaba.
This picture was taken form the ship.
This picture was taken form the ship.
This picture was taken form the ship as we were leaving Aqaba. This is a picture of Aqaba.
This picture was taken form the ship as we were leaving Aqaba. This is a picture of Aqaba.
This picture was taken form the ship as we were leaving Aqaba. This is the princess cruise ship Pacific which we have seen in several ports and is also on a World Cruise.
This picture was taken form the ship as we were leaving Aqaba. This picture is still part of Jordan.
This picture was taken form the ship as we were leaving Aqaba. This picture is still part of Jordan.
This picture was taken form the ship as we were leaving Aqaba. This picture is still part of Jordan.
This picture was taken form the ship as we were leaving Aqaba. This is an oil refinery in Jordan.
This picture was taken form the ship as we were leaving Aqaba. This is a picture of the sunset over Egypt.
This picture was taken form the ship as we were leaving Aqaba. This is still part of Jordan.
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