The Red Sea! Et pluribus unum. We might have left Wadi Rum behind, but not the desert, which accompanied us all the way to the sea. Aqaba is a fabled port city at the end of the Gulf bearing its namesake.
It lies on the Israel border, on the other side, the town of Eilat.
Arriving at Aqaba (forefront). Eilat, Israel is in the background at right. On the far left, across the water is the first town on the Egyptian Sinai peninsula.
The Sinai peninsula of Egypt is but a few miles further, and clearly visible across the water. Aqaba also abuts Saudi Arabia, to the south. You can look at all four countries simultaneously from our hotel balcony.
I had booked two days in town, looking forward to doing some snorkeling in this place known for its corals and colorful fish, as well as relaxing on the beach, but the weather is unseasonably cool, although some more daring individuals are doing it. I actually had to wear my winter coat over my sweater, early on, especially when the wind picked up. Perhaps tomorrow we’ll dare the elements.
Early Islamic Ayla. Ruins of the oldest Islamic town, which was destroyed by an earthquake.
Quarter pounder, anyone?
This lovely boulevard is flanked by expensive resort hotels.
At the beach. Israel across the Gulf.
Teenagers smoking Shisha at the beach.
More teenagers smoking shisha.
This is a Bulgarian family we had befriended at the Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum. We ran into them on the beachfront at Aqaba.
Sun setting over Egypt's Sinai peninsula. Viewed from our hotel balcony.
This is also a good place to just kickback and take a moment to unwind. R&R is all important after three weeks on the go. Our lunch spot today was another great diner called Al Shami. Shrimp, calamari, and lambchops, plus the customary rice, potatoes, tomatoes and cucumber salad, hummus and pita bread. The cuisine here does not offer much variety, but it certainly is tasty.
Other than this, not much of interest to report. Gonna try to get a good night sleep.
P.S. Rather than doing two posts for our 2 days in Aqaba, I have decided to only do one. Our second day here was spent mostly looking around shops, eating, and spending a little time at the beach.
The concierge at our hotel told us to travel on King Hussein Road until we got to the beaches out of town. The problem was that there were no restaurants there, only super-classy resorts which, did not fit the ambience we were seeking. Eventually, we drove far enough and reached the Saudi Arabian border.
400 meters from Saudi Arabia.
Jordan side of the border.
I would have loved to have lunch in Saudi, but it requires a visa that cannot be obtained at the border, so we had to head back into town, where we found the dive we were looking for and enjoyed some delicious Red Sea coal fired fish and fried calamari.
Another beach area.
Seeing people in prayer is a very common sight.
Another Buona Notte to you all.
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