Spring Cleaning

A good friend recently asked me why I make a new blog for each trip. I didn't have a good answer except that I was used to doing it that way (I had used another blog site called Travelpod and that was how they were organized). Thinking on that, I decided to integrate a lot of information about my travels into one site. I am updating, importing, cutting, pasting, and linking all manner of things.  There is now a list of separate "pages" with some trip info and photo slide shows. Also a gadget with a map that shows where I am (actually where my phone is). In the blog archive there are now older blog postings, imported from earlier trips back to 2008. I like a good project, and this is a work in progress.

Map of the Trip - Egypt and Jordan

Interactive map of the trip - click on the map for more...

Click here to view EGYPT AND JORDAN in a larger map

Distance is Relative

Things are pretty tightly packed in the Middle East. We are staying at a seaside resort about 20minutes south of Aqaba and from here  the Israeli border is 10 miles away; Egypt, 8 miles across the Red Sea; and Saudi Arabia, only 4 miles to the south. No wonder international relations here are so edgy. We are off to the airport in five minutes.

Wadi Rum

Did I mention that it is cold? It is so cold that ...

It is very cold, but the wind makes all things worse. We get word that the main road from Amman is closed due to snow overnight. Fortunately we head South today to Wadi Rum. We plan to stay there overnight in a Bediouin tent camp, and Ibrihim gives us warning that the local conditions there last night were harsh. Anyway, we look forward to visiting the desert area of Lawrence of Arabia fame. On the way we stop at a small woman's village pottery co-op where seven women run a business supported by Jordan's Queen Noor Foundation and other groups. They do nice work. Later we make a bathroom stop at a large crafts bazaar where the road crests the hills, and it is spitting snow as we get out of the van. Inside, you can see your breath and the shop employees are gathered around a wood stove, drinking tea or coffee and smoking the water pipe. When we reach Wadi Rum, Ibrihim has been busy on his cell phone and gives us an option to skip the overnight in the tents in favor of continuing to Aquaba tonight. Although I like the romance of the tent camp, it is cold and windy with blowing sand. Reason wins out. We all have coughs and runny noses and a warm bed sounds attractive. We do join the camp for lunch and a jeep tour and the area lives up to expectations. Rock formations are amazing and I regret not being able to spend several days here. At the camp, our two hosts are gathered around a wood fire, drinking tea or coffee and smoking the water pipe. Familiar scene in Jordan. Finally one more camel ride before heading to resort life in Aquaba.