Jordan

Christine:

Well, we're just getting ready to leave Jordan after a whirlwind tour!

Yesterday we got up early and drove down to Petra, about a 3 hour drive. We found a hotel first and then went to the site. It is absolutely enormous (250 sq km) and one of the most amazing things either of us had ever seen. We were blown away by the amazing facades carved into the bizarrely coloured, almost living, rock. Inside the facades, which were largely tombs, the rooms were carved symetrically and square. We went up a very long stairway that led to the top of the wadi, or valley. On the way, we stopped to rest and were invited by a lovely old Bedouin man to join him for tea. We chatted a bit with him, and listened to the silence of the rock. We were definitely off the main tourist route at that point. It was fantastic. It's really hard to put into words to describe how incredible the whole site is - you just have to experience it.

We stayed that night in Petra and the next morning headed out early for some other sites. Our first stop was Al Karak, another Crusader castle. It wasn't as well preserved as Crac des Chevalier, or as impressive defensively as the citadel at Aleppo, but was impressive none-the-less. From Al Karak, we drove out to the Dead Sea and drove up along the coast. It was a lovely deep blue at the bottom end, where we started, but became lighter as we drove up. There was no place to stop and go in it, however, unless you wanted to pay for the privilege or go on a major hike down to it. Just north of the Dead Sea was a fairly new excavation, which is a series of churches all built on the same site, belived to be the site where Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan. We were able to see the river and even dangle our feet in it. It was quite moving for me to see this important place - the foundation of my faith. We even got some water from the river! After that, it was a race into Amman to try to get to the Jordan Archeological Museum, where the Dead Sea scrolls are kept, but we didn't make it. It closes early on Fridays due to it being the Muslim holy day. We went to another Popeye's for supper, and then wandered around the site of the citadel and several temples, on the top of a hill in downtown Amman. We finished off the evening with a cup of tea in an outdoor cafe.

Our flight leaves for Bangkok at 3:30 am, so we need to check in by 1:30. We are currently at the Holiday Inn, where we are dropping off the rental car and they will take us to the airport at some point. Until then (for the next 4 hours), we will just clean up and relax a bit, either here at the hotel, or at the airport. No point in getting a hotel for just a few hours!

Barry:

Well, what can I say crossing the river Jordan into Amman a city with all the charm and sophisticaion of a tramps toilet, well sorry Christine told me that I must be nice its not that bad its just a bit of a shock after Syria. Driving here is mostly by touch the hire car looked like the pevious hirer had been round the car with a hammer.

But enough of that rubbish, there are no words in my poor and limited voabulary that would do justice to Petra, so I will say nothing but this, before you die you must go and look upon it.

In a few hours we leave for Bangkok, just a quick stop over and then hopefully, thankfully a rest.