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nuthatch | profile | all galleries >> Jordan >> Aqaba and Wadi Rum tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Aqaba and Wadi Rum

Aqaba presents a classic Middle Eastern image
Aqaba presents a classic Middle Eastern image
but history is everywhere: the ruins of a Roman church from ca. 300CE
but history is everywhere: the ruins of a Roman church from ca. 300CE
nearby, relics of the 7th~11th c. Islamic city of Ayla
nearby, relics of the 7th~11th c. Islamic city of Ayla
g9/66/607666/3/155623729.fEvKr4sx.jpg
Marla considers another nearby relic
Marla considers another nearby relic
the oceanfront park is much brighter today
the oceanfront park is much brighter today
the historic Aqaba fortress is an open-air museum
the historic Aqaba fortress is an open-air museum
g9/66/607666/3/155623735.7r3xyNLm.jpg
g9/66/607666/3/155623737.ECCfpUrV.jpg much of the original fort still survives...
much of the original fort still survives...
...plus there are spare parts galore
...plus there are spare parts galore
apparently foreign tourists are rare here
apparently foreign tourists are rare here
at the city museum next door, we see information about the archeology of Ayla...
at the city museum next door, we see information about the archeology of Ayla...
...and of the ancient settlement of Humayma we had passed yesterday
...and of the ancient settlement of Humayma we had passed yesterday
out at the Red Sea waterfront, it's still a pleasant weekend
out at the Red Sea waterfront, it's still a pleasant weekend
the water across the Gulf of Aqaba is especially blue today
the water across the Gulf of Aqaba is especially blue today
walking back thru town, we pass sites both religious...
walking back thru town, we pass sites both religious...
...and secular
...and secular
the people here have been very friendly
the people here have been very friendly
we return to our hotel to prepare for our afternoon in Wadi Rum
we return to our hotel to prepare for our afternoon in Wadi Rum
at the edge of the valley, there is a visitor center and several research buildings
at the edge of the valley, there is a visitor center and several research buildings
we climb into a 4x4 to visit several of the side valleys
we climb into a 4x4 to visit several of the side valleys
first stop is the unmistakable Seven Pillars rock formation
first stop is the unmistakable Seven Pillars rock formation
but everywhere we go we are surrounded by unusual hills rising from the desert
but everywhere we go we are surrounded by unusual hills rising from the desert
we round the Seven Pillars to head east
we round the Seven Pillars to head east
g9/66/607666/3/155623790.aQX398lY.jpg this rock looks like a good vantage point to survey the landscape
this rock looks like a good vantage point to survey the landscape
g9/66/607666/3/155623792.RVKYg7E8.jpg
climbing the slope
climbing the slope
g9/66/607666/3/155623794.grMxaNE3.jpg the view from the top is spectacular
the view from the top is spectacular
g9/66/607666/3/155623796.eeBL2hdE.jpg
g9/66/607666/3/155623797.ihG9Y2U4.jpg g9/66/607666/3/155623798.6QQF0lYu.jpg g9/66/607666/3/155623799.1wFD7mbw.jpg what to do in an ocean of sand?
what to do in an ocean of sand?
how about discovering water just a few centimeters below the surface!
how about discovering water just a few centimeters below the surface!
g9/66/607666/3/155623802.RQrtCUiM.jpg elsewhere, our guide Naif shows us how the plant called 'ataram'...
elsewhere, our guide Naif shows us how the plant called 'ataram'...
...can be crushed and ground...
...can be crushed and ground...
...to create a very pleasant soap
...to create a very pleasant soap
there is evidence all through this area of the recent heavy rains
there is evidence all through this area of the recent heavy rains
g9/66/607666/3/155623807.owE76veu.jpg as the afternoon turns to evening, shadows take over the canyons
as the afternoon turns to evening, shadows take over the canyons
g9/66/607666/3/155623809.gqmHTTe7.jpg g9/66/607666/3/155623810.gTRVBPvS.jpg we meet some residents heading home
we meet some residents heading home
a semi-permanent bedouin camp
a semi-permanent bedouin camp
nearby, there are Nabataean petroglyphs
nearby, there are Nabataean petroglyphs
the camels have been taking advantage of the collected rainwater
the camels have been taking advantage of the collected rainwater
now we are off again...
now we are off again...
...heading to a canyon named for T. E. Lawrence
...heading to a canyon named for T. E. Lawrence
this notch carries water into the far valley during heavy rain
this notch carries water into the far valley during heavy rain
a vein in the local red stone...
a vein in the local red stone...
...is used to make rouge
...is used to make rouge
Naif and Marla in Lawrence's Canyon
Naif and Marla in Lawrence's Canyon
off we go again
off we go again
here is a camp where Lawrence stayed during WWI
here is a camp where Lawrence stayed during WWI
his portrait from 1917
his portrait from 1917
inside a bedouin merchant's tent, an Italian tour group bargains...
inside a bedouin merchant's tent, an Italian tour group bargains...
...while Marla enjoys tea and the company of a friendly cat
...while Marla enjoys tea and the company of a friendly cat
we're off again, looking for a view of the sunset
we're off again, looking for a view of the sunset
g9/66/607666/3/155623829.uQq1jnwo.jpg on a rocky ridge (that's our silhouette at the shadow line)
on a rocky ridge (that's our silhouette at the shadow line)
g9/66/607666/3/155623831.Vx401vz2.jpg g9/66/607666/3/155623832.U3tBFCmq.jpg g9/66/607666/3/155623833.tpP1g54X.jpg near sundown, shadows stretch
near sundown, shadows stretch
g9/66/607666/3/155623835.KpBwIuza.jpg and finally the sun drops over the ridge
and finally the sun drops over the ridge
with direct light gone, colors become more subtle...
with direct light gone, colors become more subtle...
...and the moon will guide us...
...and the moon will guide us...
...back to Aqaba
...back to Aqaba