THE ROAD TO JORDAN
I got up the next morning and went to the lobby at 6:00. The Canadian couple were already there when I arrived. The driver and guide arrived in a van. We loaded all our stuff in the back of the van and took the half hour drive to the place where we were going to catch a hyrofoil and cross the Red Sea and arrive in the City of Aqaba on the other side in the country of Jordan. On the way we passed the landscape we had become used to; The desert, mountains with no foliage, people hitch-hiking along the side of the road. Their way of hitch-hiking in the Sinai Peninsula was to wave at the passing cars instead of sticking out your thumb like they used to do in the United States.

HYDROFOIL
Once at the hydrofoil terminal we had to have our luggage checked as usual since we were going into another country. We also had to have a Jordanian stamp put into our passport. We didn't have to get a visa since they are trying to encourage people to come and visit the great country of Jordan since tourism started to dwindle after terrorists acts were commited in that country in the mid 1990's. This took a little time, and then after a little more of a wait we boarded the hydrofoil. I immediately sat down on the shady side of the vessel. I noticed all the Spanish, Italians and sun worshippers sat on the side where they could sit and bask in the sun. I used to do that when I lived in places that had a sunny climate. When you are used to living in a very hot climate you get to like the warm rays of the sun shining on you all the time. Otherwise you feel cold.
The hydrofoil started out going slow and then it picked up speed, and then went at medium speed the rest of the way over. It was a very short ride. It took only about 20 minutes.
On the Jordan side we got out of the little ship and our luggage was lined up on the dock. Our driver/guide arrived. Of course his name was Mohammed. He seemed nice enough on first impression. He was very helpful. We got our stuff and headed for the car. The city of Aqaba was not far way. On the way Mohammed pointed out the country of Isreal sitting on the other side of a small body of water. It was the southern tip of Isreal. Aqaba is an ancient city that is on the major trading route from Asia to Europe.

We stopped in Aqaba for a few minutes so I could change some of my Egyptian Pounds to Jordanian money. Mohammed bought us a Pepsi and we got some water, then we were off to Petra.
First ImpressionsThe main highway through Jordan is called the King's Highway. I think it is named after their King. He may have had it built. Out the window was a vast expanse of seemingly endless desert. This part of Jordan in ancient times was called The Plains of Moab. Once in a while Mohammed pointed out a Bedouin tent pitched along side the road or further out in the desert. This ancient nomadic way of life is slowly starting to fade out in this country. The government does all it can to help the Bedouins to integrate into regular civilization and live by the standards of the modern world, but there are always a few who prefer the old ways. Many Bedouins have found the conviences of modern life and have bought trucks and car, and now live in regular houses.
The government is being very patient with them and are trying to guide them gently into a more modern way of life.

WADI MUSA - The Valley of Moses
After a short drive we came to a place called Wadi Musa. Petra is hidden in some of the tallest mountains in this area. Mohammed first took the Canadian couple to their hotel. Then he took me to mine. The name of my hotel was called Movenpick. It is a Swiss hotel and it was a very nice place. It is right across the street from the entrance of Petra.

After I checked in and got my room, I took a shower and changed my clothes and decided to go for a walk. The hotel is at the bottom of a hill so my walk would be going up the hill. I got out on the street. The sun was still high in the sky and it was still quite warm. I passed a few shops and a resturant. I thought I would try to find some music. Over on the other side of the road there were houses built on the side of a hill. This place was not heavily populated. There weren't many people on the street. and there was only light traffic on the street.

I spotted a store on top of the hill so I made my way up to it. It was pretty steep towards the top, but I made it. I walked into the store. I was the only customer. There were two men tending the store. The older one seemed to be around 40, and the younger one was in his twenties. I looked around a little bit to see what they had then the older man asked if I was looking for something in particular. I asked him if they had any music. He siad they did but they were at his other store. I told him I was interested in buying some. I asked him if he had any Jordanian music, or any other regional music. He said he did. He had the younger attendent make me a cup of tea, and then he left for the other store. When the younger guy brought out the tea. I tasted it and it was the best tea I had ever tasted. It was cardamon tea. It was the perfect blend of cardamon, honey, black tea and maybe cloves and lemon, I think. I've made it a few times since I got back. It is just great.

A little while later the man came back with five CD's. I bought them all plus an Arabic cook book and a book on Petra. The CD's were only about 4$ each. I thought that was a pretty good deal. I was surprised that he charged me for the tea. Usually they don't charge you for tea if you buy somethng. I guess times were tough there and they needed the money.