I published a blog giving an account of yesterday’s journey from the Port of Aqaba to the Lost City of Petra. Re- reading what I had written, I felt that my description of the tour was inadequate given the prominence of the place visited. I intend this account to be somewhat better.
The Lost City of Petra is on many a traveller’s “bucket list”. It was never on mine, but being told so many times that I should take the opportunity if it arose, that opportunity did arise when I received the tours brochure “Your Ocean Awaits” from Cunard. Even then, I did not book straight away.
As I have mentioned previously, I am still recovering from open heart surgery, ‘though the effects are far less severe than even a few weeks ago. That, together with an at times painful knee injury, I did question the wisdom of undertaking what I felt might be a long and arduous trek. In spite of all these misgivings, encouraged by friends, I decided to go, despite not really having an idea what I would be seeing. The Cunard literature was most useful. Even so, I was still somewhat unprepared.
The coach journey from the Port of Aqaba where we docked early yesterday morning took us through the Jordanian Desert from where spectacular rocky mountains sprouted from the distant dry desert plains on both sides of the Desert Highway. Our tour guide delivered a commentary explaining what we were seeing from the coach. After almost two hours, we stopped for a comfort break as well as the opportunity to look accross at a Grand Canyon-like landscape. Like most of us on the tour, I availed myself of the toilet facilities whose windows also looked out accross this Canyon….a loo with a view!
Soon, we were in the modern town of Petra, where the coach parked and we alighted.
I, along with several hundred others from the ship, as well as the usual number of tourists, set off walking in the steps of several explorers who, during the early stages of the 19th Century set eyes upon the remains of an ancient civilisation. The history of the Lost City of Petra and it’s rediscovery after 500 years cannot be documented in this, again, all too brief blog. One can only imagine their wide eyed amazement as they stumbled accross the giant and not so big remains of what was obviously once a great city. Much of the decorative detail of former buildings has been eroded but is still discernable. I do have two guide books on the subject which I shall enjoy reading in the near future. I shall attempt to publish a few relevant photographs in the near future. Anybody visiting for the first time will find the Lost City of Petra awesome, as I myself did. I came away, wishing I could have stayed for two or three days to really develope a knowledge of this new Wonder of the World.
Apologies for repeating some of the original blog. I hope this did give a slightly better idea of the day.
All the best, David…
PS. Some pictures to follow. Right now, we are anchored at the South end of the Suez Canal where we are scheduled to begin our transit at 4am….less than 2.5 hours from now. The balmy nights of recent times are not quite as warm. Yesterday, we completed our journey along the north west arm of the Red Sea. It was a calm peaceful and generally routine day, which for me, has just ended at 01.45 the following morning!
Good night, and thanks for reading.
David.
David's Cruise 