Aqaba, Jordon. April 3, 2022. Day 1

 Our day at sea before arriving in Aqaba was a great respite from the heat and touring.  As usual we arrived on time at 8 am.  It was a pleasant 79 degrees with a good breeze.  

The city of Aqaba is Jordon’s only coastal City and amid coffee-colored desert hills.  Some are even reddish brown and the Red Sea supposedly got its name because of the coffee to reddish brown desert hills  that flank it.  Because of its location it played a major role in the region’s trade for thousands of years.  It appears to be an expanding city with lots of construction activity.  They build rather impressive infrastructure before there is even a hint of a building project.  Most construction sites are also hidden behind huge temporary walls, and the walls depict the future of that area.    Currently it has only approximately 180,000 residents.  Many of their old structures are being torn down and new ones are replacing them.  Generally all in the same style as there seems to be rather strict building design codes that all must adhere to.  Their 27 km coastline is mostly resorts, marine preserve and public beaches.  At its most southern point of the coastline you will come to a huge round-about with one street veering to the right and the Saudi Arabian border.   On the most northern side Aqaba borders with Israel.  And if you look across the Red Sea,  you will also see Israel and Egypt through a very hazy sky.   The haze was not pollution, don’t know why it was so hazy since the humidity was only 25%.     

The major reasons to come to Aqaba are:  its beaches and excellent diving; its proximity to Petra (about a 2 hour drive one way);  its proximity to the Wadi Rum  (which we will visit tomorrow); and the Dead Sea (about a 4 hour drive).  It’s people are friendly and helpful and it is a very safe country.  Although still an Arabic nation it is not as strict, and most are dressed in western style clothing rather than the Arabic style. Women are not required to wear hijabs or coverup otherwise.  Also, while still a conservative society, stressing modesty and courtesy, alcohol is allowed in bars, clubs, hotels and private homes.  

The town of Aqaba itself has little of interest, it is a rather dull. Hence our  not quite 3 hour tour revealed little and ended at a Bizarre where quite a few people ( including myself) bought some locally made products and  souvenirs.     Tomorrow should be more interesting.  We opted not to go to Petra since we both had been there in 2019.  

Arriving at Aqaba, Jordon     At the most northern end of the Red Sea and in the Bay of Aqaba.

The Red Sea and lots of reddish sand.

One of the many constructions sites, while no structures yet, infrastructure and landscaping seems to come first. 

At the most southern tip of the Jordanian Red Sea coast line is a round-about with this ship sculpture.  One road to the right led to the Saudi border.

One of the many fancy and nicely landscaped resort properties. 

The Red Sea,  beaches, wind-blown trees  (its always windy there and a spot for windsurfers) and Egypt in the background behind the haze. 

Our ship and Egypt in the background.

The new housing that replaced the dilapidated houses as seen below.