Exploring Jordan and Egypt

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Friday, 25 February 2022 - Up before sunrise to photograph the desert and mountains near our camp, then went on a 4-WD tour of Wadi Rum where the landscape of red sand and towering rock formations offered dramatic photography opportunities, visited a Bedouin camp for tea and local interactions, enjoyed the desert views, and in the afternoon drove south to Aqaba on the Red Sea for the evening.

Up early by more than an hour before sunrise to photograph the stars. Unfortunately, there were so many lights on our grounds and from neighboring camps, creating too much light pollution. So we waited for sunrise.

egypt2022 — It did not disappoint - the views were limited from the camp but the desert was beautiful.

egypt2022 — The distant mountains across the desert. We were perched on a large sand dune at the edge of the camp and could see a distance.

egypt2022 — Rocks near the camp in the morning light.

egypt2022 — The sun makes its appearance.

egypt2022 — The morning light on the sand and mountains near our camp.

egypt2022 — Cal and Virginia Ann preparing for our "jeep" tour of Wadi Rum - we were in the back of a pickup. It was pleasant as the weather was nice and the trucks went very slowly.

We were disappointed in the tour of Wadi Rum as there was only one landscape stop - the rest were tourist trap stops.

egypt2022 — The view at the single landscape location on the tour - it was pretty, but we were a little late getting up and going.

The red in the sand and on the mountains is beautiful - and visible in every direction.

egypt2022 — Cal photographing Wadi Rum.

egypt2022 — Cal striking a pose in Wadi Rum.

egypt2022 — The second stop on the tour was to a location where there were a lot of camel vendors offering rides. Everyone was very excited to ride - Virginia Ann and Cal had ridden camels, so we were watching.

Cal spotted these two camels sitting off to the side near a small camp fire.

egypt2022 — Driving through a canyon to our next destination there are some spectacular rock formations.

egypt2022 — The rocks in places look like they are melting.

egypt2022 — Our third and last stop on the tour was to a Bedouin camp for tea - and shopping. This is the tea part.

egypt2022 — And this is the shopping part. Virginia Ann purchased a scarf with camels. Quickly the salesman took the scarf and wrapped Virginia Ann up as a local. Once he did all the women wanted a scarf - and to be wrapped up like Virginia Ann.

egypt2022 — After a lunch in Wadi Rum we drove south to Aqaba for the evening. Aqaba, on the Red Sea, is the only port of Jordan.

egypt2022 — Virginia Ann and Cal posing on the banks with the Red Sea in the background.

egypt2022 — As the day wound down we had drinks on the patio and watched the sunset. Despite the signs saying no photographs across the sea into Israel Cal loaded up his telephoto and took this picture of the setting sun on the Israeli mountains.

egypt2022 — Sunset over the Red Sea.

egypt2022 — Our tour guide offered to take us on a walk of downtown Aqaba. This is the Aqaba Fort built in the 1500s. In July 1916, the fortress was witness to a victory of the Arab Revolt, when this heavily defended Turkish stronghold fell to an Arab camel charge. Lawrence of Arabia rode triumphantly from here to Cairo to report the good news to General Allenby.

egypt2022 — Arabic with no English was the standard.

egypt2022 — We stopped for small dessert cookies at a bakery. These are cookies stuffed with pistachios.

egypt2022 — These baked delights were little nests of with pistachios with dates inside.

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