Aqaba, Jordan - October 31

After two early mornings, I slept until I was slept out - about 9:15 (I'd gone to bed around 12:30).  I puttered around my cabin and left for the shuttle at 10:15. The ride into the city was only about 10 minutes.  

Aqaba is on the Gulf of Aqaba (unless you are Israeli and then it is the Gulf of Eilat).  It is an ancient city and is strategic because it is Jordan's only seaport and it is a gateway to the major tourist attractions of Petra and Wadi Rum.  It also has the southernmost border crossing with Israel.

I wasn't certain how comfortable I would feel walking around on my own but it was fine.  I walked about two miles and looked at all the interesting shops.  Virtually all of them put their merchandise out on the street to view.  Not sure why, but it could be because of the normal heat here - it's cooler on the street than in a closed in shop with no a/c.

After about an hour I took the shuttle back to the ship and gathered my things together to go to the Lido for lunch and to work on uploading pictures for the blog.

After finishing the pictures, I walked out on the back deck and realized it was the perfect day for a swim and some sun.  I hustled to my cabin, changed, and was in the pool within 15 minutes.  I swam for a half hour and did the equivalent of 20 lengths of the pool at home and then sat in the sun for an hour.

I made another pitcher of tea and changed again to go out to watch us sail from Aqaba.

I've been on the ship for three weeks and I finally met my next-door neighbor, Paul.

All five of us were at dinner but four of them are going to Luxor tomorrow which is a 13-14 hour excursion.  Since I will be the only one left, I plan to eat in the Lido.  There was a Halloween Costume Party on the World Stage after dinner.  I looked in, took some pictures, and left.  Quite a few people had costumes on.

We gain the hour we lost Saturday night since we are returning to Egyptian time.  Safaga, Egypt tomorrow.

Smooth sailing until next time!

        On the road between Aqaba and Petra

the dark portions are from ancient volcanic eruptions

we passed a huge wind farm which the guide said was part of a multi-nation project

not much for the sheep to munch on

From my walk around Aqaba

these were in the square where the shuttle dropped us

this cutie befriended me and let me pet her

I passed at least a dozen shops with displays of nuts and bags of snack items

I saw a few shops that had birds in cages outside

ladies clothing

shoes, shoes, and more shoes

need a clay pot?

above and two below are murals painted on this little building

there is a beach beyond the trees and the land you see across the water is Eilat, Israel

a community garden?

the Al-Sharif Al-Hussein bin Ali Mosque

no explanation needed

Halloween on the ship

Ghost and spider cup cakes

decorations in dining room

part of the decorations in the World Stage

Ocean Bar Band

Judy and Bob