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Published: September 23rd 2008
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On top of Mount Nebo
The view to the promised land Woke up in the Palace hotel in Amman that certainly did not befit its title, the previous night had a marvellous Falafel meal for approx 2 pounds it was rounded off nicely with the local tea which consists of about 8 tablespoons of sugar and a few tea leves - nice.
Had a good nights sleep and was all ready for the next leg to Petra, me and Ania and Martin had arranged to go on an organised trip from Amman to Wadi Musa (the nearest town to Petra) instead of just getting a bus to take in a few sights on the way. The cost was 23 JDs (about 25 pounds sterling) on the way I made some new chums Paul from Leeds who is now an ex-pat living in Kenya and his girlfriend Maggie who is another Pole (I'm surrounded by them) plus by new best chum for the next 2 nights Anna again from Poland who is an airline stewardess for Emirates living in Dubai - ahemmm. we visited the following sites:
Mount Nebo - according to the old testament this is where Moses first saw the promised land - it held a pretty amazing view
over the dead sea and further on towards Jerusalem - saw a few mosaics and ruins etc.
From there went to a greek orthodox church to check out some more mosaics, it was a lovely little church - wait for the pics.
On the way stopped to get some pictures of the amazing wadi Mujib (Wadi means valley in arabic) it is known as the grand canyon of Jordan. It is about 1km deep and 4km wide.
From there went to Kerak which was another old crusader castle, after the magnificance of Krak des Chevaliers it was not very impressive. It was famous during the 12th century battles between the crusaders and the muslim armies of saladin. Also stopped to take pictures of the Dana nature reserve.
After an extortionate meal at the castle (10 JDs) we left for another ruined castle called Shobak but had a little adventure. In the guide book it says that there is a subterranean dungeon under the castle that you can get to by walking down 357 steps in pitch darkness and shouldn't venture without a guide - obviously this sounded like a challenge so I persuaded Anna to come
down with me!! Thankfully I hd taken my torch but it was very dank and smelly and slippy and at the end was just presented with a small room but I'm sure I felt something brush past me down there - hopefully it was Anna:-)
We then arrived at Wadi Musa and the six of us scouted round for a hotel - as there was so many we had a lot of bargaining power - looked at Cleopetra which was rubbish and a 3 star hotel which was 70 JD a night - we burst into hysterics when they told us the price and settled into the Sharah mountains hotel which should be 30 jd and 20 jd for doubles and single rooms respectively but we got him down to 15 and 10 for en suite, breakfast and travel to Petra an absolute bargain. The owner a huge guy over 6 foot and about 18 stone took a shine to me and the rest of the bunch were taking the mick suggesting he would be knocking at my door in the middle of the night. Thankfully he didn't!!
Had a quick shower and the six of us went
out for a meal at Al- wadi restuarant near the main roundabout - it was westernised and I wouldn't recommend it - instead go to Arabian nights retsuarants - see next post. A couple of the group had a bad stomach after eating at the restaurant but not me - woohoo.
Another Alcohol free night and no Falafel.
Petra - next day - oh my god!!!!!
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