23th April – flight out

Up early to drive to a Purple Parking miles away from Heathrow. Steve reckoned it would have been best to park at home. Airbus was late leaving. We eventually arrived in Jordan at our hotel late in the evning.

24th April – Jerash

Breakfast was the usual Middle Eastern fare of hummus, cheese, yoghurt, omelettes, cold meats, olives juices and coffee. We left at 9 for the drive to Jerash. Hill, outcrops of rock, olive trees. We arrived at a very remote hotel near Jerash called the olive Branch. Here we explored and waited for Abdul who had gone to the Syrian border to pick up the group who had arrived from Damascus.

Now the whole group was together, we went for lunch in Jerash at the Green Valley Restaurant. Mezze and salads. After lunch we went to Jerash in the pouring rain. Here we purchased yellow ponchos. Others had brought wet weather gear, we had not, assuming it it be dry. Good call, we were the driest of the group in our ponchos. We spent several hours being shown around the ruins. We were entertained by bag pipe music by some ex army men. Crowds of school girls wanting to sing God Save the Queen.

25th April – Kerak

Today we were driving to Kerak. We had breakfast at 7.15, the usual food, plus scrambled eggs and Nescafe. Drive to Amman, and then South and onto Mount Nebo. Mount Nebo is where Moses saw the promised land. From here there were views of the Dead Sea, and masses of tourists.

Back on the coach, we drove on to Madaba where the chapel of Greek Orthodox Basilica of Saint George has a mosaic map of the holy land centred around Jerusalem. Exchanged some money here.

We then continued on the Kings Highway to Kerak. We stopped for some photographs on the Highway overlooking a reservoir.

At Kerak we dumped our bags at the hotel and went to look castle next door. Large medieval castle built for the crusades. Had drinks in the hotel bar with a Scottish couple, and then went out for a meal on town with them.

26th/27th April Petra

Breakfast at 7, and out by 8. Breakfast was not ready, so Roger the tour leader had to race around. Picked up lunch on the way. There was a lot of phosphate mining in the region. We arrived in Petra and spend two days here. We also did an evening walk into the wadi where candles lit the way in. Rosemary got caught by by trinket sellers. Rosemary also found out weeks later that Steve had bough some as well. The women used a different selling mechanism on him. On the 27th R went to little Petra, while S explored more of Petra on his own.

28th April Wadi Rum

Today we head off to Wadi Rum in some 4x4s. First stop was to look back at Petra. Another stop for a Byzantine church and a tortoise. Lunch by a famous rock every photographs. Stopped for a train travelling on a line. Then a hard walk across the sand, (or camel ride) to get to our campsite. BBQ food tonight, and all sleeping in a sheared tent.

29th April Aquaba

Up early, and an excellent breakfast. 4x4s arrived at 8.00 to take us away. Set off across the desert. Stopped at the visitor centre for the loos and the 7 Pillars of Wisdom. We arrived in Aqaba. Checked in at the International. Went to the Aqaba International Diving centre private beach, Steve did some snorkelling in the sea, look at the reef. Bus back at 4, dropped off at a McDonalds, and a walk back. Met one of the tour members was lost. We met again at 7.15 for supper. After supper, drinks on the roof terrace.

30th April Dead Sea

Today, back to Amman, to the hotel and then home in the morning. On the way we stopped off at the Dead Sea and a swim and a buffet lunch.