On Sunday around noon we docked in Aqaba at the Northern tip of the Aqaba Sea.
It is a very large and only port in Jordan better known as the tourist destination for Petra the lost city.
We hadn’t booked to go to Petra on this occasion, as we come back here the first port of the second leg of our cruise. We were here overnight because of the cancellation of the other Egyptian Ports and then onto Eilat the most Southern port of Israel which just happens to be 5 miles east of Aqaba and can be seen clearly on the other side of the tip of the Aqaba Sea. Just like being able to see Surfers Paradise from our balcony.
That afternoon we split excursions Gloria doing a City tour and Tony went to the Inter Continental Hotel to spend the afternoon swimming on their private beach and using the hotel’s resort facilities. Neither was anything to write home about.
The next day we caught the Shuttle into the City of around 100,000 people and spent the morning walking around the market area of bakeries, butchers, fruit & vege. and a number of gold shops. Quite a pleasant mornings exercise.
Aqaba surrounded by colourful landscape.
Think this is one of Scott and Erin's goats!!
Mass Pita bread production
Tallest flying flagpole in the World 140 metres tall
Everyone was wondering how the Captain was going to sail for 8 hours overnight transgressing 5 miles. Eventually he informed us they were able to negotiate with the authorities to sail south from Aqaba until clear of the Jordan sea limit and then do a euwie and sail into Eilat Israel docking there for the rest of the night, but not putting the gangway down until morning.
So we awoke to a number of people doing the excursion to Masada and the Dead sea that we had done several days earlier.
WE chose to go to the Red Canyon and then to the Underwater Observatory and Marine Park a top tourist attraction here in Eilat a City of just 60,000 people but a very nice new City.
Dividing fence between Egypt and Israel!
WE set off for the Red Canyon up into the mountains almost on the border of Israel and Egypt. The Israelis had over the years had a number of Africans trying to get across the border to get work in Israel so they built a massive fence 300 km’s long all covered in razor wire and electronically controlled, about 20 feet high. It was built in a year, quite amazing.
We turned off the highway into the bus park where we then hiked for an hour down this rough path to the bottom of the canyon, it was mainly loose stones and broken fallen rocks from above, hard to walk on at times.
It was some hike, about a kilometer from the top of the canyon and then by way of a series of narrow ledges and ladders of some description, through narrow sections not many big bodies could fit using all sorts hand holds and grips etc. Very tight.
It was quite amazing how some made it through all this very picturesque red granite cliffs to the bottom and then we turned around and walked out a different direction on the side of the cliffs. Whew worn out is a mild expression.
We then drove back to Eilat about 20 kms. to the underwater observatory which is probably equal to the best we’d ever seen. There were about 10 differing types of aquariums, some with small coral fish, to sharks, turtles, sting rays and then down underwater to see the coral reefs and sea life there. A very nice couple of hours.
The highlight was going into the Oceanarium a large theartre to watch a movie of people diving in various locations with whale sharks and big white pointers, the differing part was we sat in moving seats that highlighted all the action, like moving with the sea, at one stage in a helicopter providing all types of sensations akin to a Big dipper ride at Luna Park.
So tonight we sail for Safaga (Luxor) Egypt for the end of this segment and tomorrow we will have a new lot of passengers to get to know.
No comments:
Post a Comment