Day 1: My first Flight!

Middle East » Jordan » West » Madaba
October 12th 2013

Published: October 27th 2013

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Vlekkie

The Monastery

The Monastery - Petra - Jordan

Today was the day: I finally go to Jordan! Before my trip, people asked me why I wanted to visit Jordan, a country in the Middle-East. People think that Jordan is also very restless due the Arabic restless, but that's not true. A time ago, I saw a TV travel program where the Dutch Erica Terpstra (old politician and old athlete) was visiting Jordan. She went to Amman and I really like the atmosphere, it looked like a "1000-and-one-night", fairytale. Then, she visted Petra. I was very wondering what was behind "the Siq", a narrow canyon with a big height. Then, you saw the Treasury of Petra. I never saw that in my life, and my mount fell open: This couldn't be true! Since that moment, I would like to visit Jordan and started to read about it. In june I booked a single trip with the Dutch adventures organisation Sawadee a 12 day trip to Jordan. In compassion with the other Dutch organisations, it was a great mix between nature and culture. And today, I finally should go to Jordan! Our travelgroup was full, and consisted out of 20 people and one tour guide.

And I would fly for

Me at Schiphol

the first time. I never had flown, so I was a little tense. More about the fact how everything should work. I never been at Schiphol Airport (or a big airport in general), so I had no idea how everything works. Quite exciting I stood up, ready to go! My parents, and my uncle, were quite curious about Scihphol, so they drive me to Schiphol. We were quite on time: 3,5 hours in advange! I had to to go the check-in bar 21, but I was way to early. So, I had to wait before the bar went open. I was first to check in, and I got a seat by the window: 21A! By the incheck bar I met Richard, also a member of my travel group. Together, we went due the customs control and were ready for boarding. By the gate, we met two other members of our travel group: Martin and Raldi. Later, we met our tour guide Karin. She studied Islamic Studies and (has been) travelling a lot in the Middle-East and Asia. The rest of the group, total of 16, had another flight with a step over in Istanbul. Gladly, I had a direct flight

Our Plane

Royal Jordanian, Airbus A319.

from Amsterdam to Amman. We saw or airplane arriving to the gate. I fly with Royal Jordanian, an Airbus A319, and we could start boarding. My place was a the end of the plane (by it's tail), and by the window! Next to me, there was a man out of Sudan, which was travelling at home. So, there we go! I really liked the take-off. My parents told me they saw the plane also took off.

Due the flight I watched some moves and TV shows and I got a meal; I chose for beaf with ginger vegetables and rice. It became dark, the evening was coming. Close by Israel, we started to touch down. We flight almost for 5 hours. The landing was softly.

We had to leave the plain via an stairs, and were transported by a buss. Due the group visa we easily could get our visa. The local agent was waiting for us. We had to wait for our luggage, but it arrived. Then, the local agent brought us to our taxi. The taxi bus took us four (the tour leader and the agent stayed on the airplane to await the others), to our

In the Sky

hotel. There, we checked in. I got room 314, and I shared it with Elianne, but she didn't arrived yet. Raldi, Martin, Richard and I took a drink. I choose to try the "Mount Nebo Wine", we should visit Mount Nebo the next day and I really wanted to try the wine. It was good wine!

After that, I went to my room, and to organised my luggage. Richard knocked at my door "the rest of the group arrived", he told. We went down, and we met the others of my group. I met the rest of our group and my room mate Elianne. We talked before we started to sleep. Tomorrow, the adventure should begin!

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