The Weekend

Hiking, walking, exploring, swimming, camping, rock climbing, adventuring, camel riding, snorkeling, inadequate sleeping are just a few words to summarize the weekend I just lived. 

This expedition took me to Wadi Rum, Aqaba, and Petra, all located in Southern Jordan.  I am still trying to quantify the magnitude of the trip I just partook in; I can’t fully comprehend it because I am still in a state of awe.  

Each place brought with it its own exceptional qualities, and adventure.

Wadi Rum

The first day we left Amman in the early morning, heading to Wadi Rum, full of excitement and anticipation. Then our bus broke down in the middle of the desert, which gave us the opportunity to play some soccer.  An hour and a half later we were back on the road! We started driving and less than a mile away we were stopped by a substantial traffic backup. 30 minutes passed, and we were able to make a U-turn and head down a different road towards Wadi Rum.

Upon arrival, we had a quick dinner and then the true beginning of the expedition began. We took 4x4s out into the dessert, and made a couple stops at some magnificent viewpoints. Our next stop was at a camp at which we transferred over to camels for the final leg of the day’s journey. The final stop was at our campsite, where we could watch the sunset over the desert horizon. A beautiful ending to a beautiful day. Wadi Rum Pictures!

Aqaba

The following morning we departed for Aqaba, where the Red Sea is located. This was the first time that we could clearly see Israel! At Aqaba we spent the day on the Red Sea, snorkeling, swimming, and relaxing on a boat. The unique thing about the Red Sea is how salty it is, which made for a rough time snorkeling, but nonetheless it was a great experience because we were able to see coral, many different species of fish, eels, and lobsters.

At the end of our time at Aqaba, we left for Petra, where we were going to sleep for the night. Aqaba Pictures!

Petra

Established 312 BC.

Petra was the highlight, and the climax of the trip. This was the day that I was most looking forward to, and it did not disappoint. It was amazing to see how this ancient city, carved out of stone, was still prevalent today. We were able to see the tombs of ancient ancestors, the great Petra Treasury, and countless other priceless historical places.

The diverse architecture and art represented different times in history and people, along with the different civilizations that have governed them. Whether you looked up, down, or to the side, there was always something magnificent to see.

In this day we walked well over 6 miles, along with climbing roughly 800 stairs up to the Monastery and Mountain View points. It didn’t end there however, a friend and I went off the beaten path, up between the mountain and the monastery, where after a rough climb, we ended up on top of the Monastery. It’s rare to find me speechless, but at this moment I was.

We then headed back down the mountain, where at the base of it we decided that taking a camel the rest of the way would benefit our exhausted bodies immensely. It was worth every piaster.

Petra Pictures!

The aching of Monday morning is a subtle reminder of the weekend I just lived.