Jordan

SS: This was a 'must have' place on my list when John and I decided to do this. Based first in Amman, we took in the sites of this massive city that was built amongst 17 hills. Houses built on top of each other, this city has a chaotic landscape from one of the highest peaks where most of Amman's lengthy history can be seen. It seems like every ruler from every era over the past 7,000 years has left their mark on the famous Citadel Hill (Jabal al-Qal'a). 

We bused down to the magnificent ancient city of Petra. Oh my, is it ever stunning. Nestled down a long, steep, twisting, narrow rock gorge (Siq), you finally arrive at your first site - The Treasury (Al Khazneh) . It's breathtaking. Carved out of the rock, it is still in almost perfect detailed condition. You don't even know how anything else can compare until you climb the 800 stairs to the Monastery; although the Royal Tombs come in an easy 3rd place.  

We took a 4x4 drive through the Wadi Rum, most made famous by Lawrence of Arabia, taking in the vast landscape of this desert. Ended our day in Aqaba looking over to the sun starting to set over Elait, Isreal only a few kilometres away. 

Back in Amman, we took a taxi out the Dead Sea and floated on this strange body of water 427m below sea level - the earth's lowest elevation on land. It is crazy! In the deep areas, I was bobbing only waist deep without touching the bottom. The salt is so intense that when you air dry you have a thick layer of salt all over your body. A tip of my tounge taste test nearly made my eyes water. 

I wish we had more time in the Middle East - so much to see and do here.

JG: First thing some friends said when relaying we were visiting Jordan: "what are you doing, that's right next to Syria!"

Amman is pretty developed in parts, even resort-like in some, but we opted to stay in the old city, which was fantastic. The markets, the vendors zipping around in rickshaws and wheel barrels, the street meat (my personal favorite) - I didn't have many expectations, but it met them handily. And Petra - it's everything Sandy advertised in advanced. The city was a major trade route at one time into/out of Asia, and the ornate detail in the tombs, temples and monuments - some chiseled into the stone facades 50m high - was on par with anything we've seen, and easily the most photogenic. 

The desert tour was a bit less impressive, but that's only compared to what little we saw of the Sahara in Morocco. But the people are kind, the Middle Eastern food is out of this world, and commuting was a breeze. Gotta make it back to these parts soon and explore more cities and countries. 

Hookah!

My fellow Americans!