(^8) 23 February - Aqaba - Ras an-Naqb – 88 km
Ernest and I followed the King’s Highway, an ancient north-south
trade route connecting Africa to Mesopotamia since prehistoric times.
This ancient route ran from Egypt via the Sinai desert to Aqaba and
north to Damascus.
As romantic as it may sound, the area was mountainous and the hills
made it exhausting riding. Nevertheless, we pushed on until reaching
Ras An-Naqib where we pitched the tents next to the road at more
than 1,600m above sea level. I realised it wasn’t my imagination - it
was an uphill trek.
24–26 February – Ras an-Naqb – Wadi Musa – 44 km
The next morning was an easy 44 kilometres to Wadi Musa. The
Valentine Hotel, sporting pink walls, red curtains and a mirror above
the bed, lured us in and became home for the next few days.
We parked off at Wadi Musa to explore the ancient city of Petra
(known as the Rose City due to the colour of the sandstone cliffs).
Although it was my second visit in a short time, Petra was no less
impressive.
Petra is a remarkable place; I failed to see how it couldn’t impress
even the most seasoned traveller. Dating to 300 BC, it was the capital
of the Nabatean Kingdom. However, the most impressive part of the
visit was the entrance. Following a narrow canyon walk, it suddenly
and quite unexpectedly opened, revealing a genuinely astonishing
sight, the 45-metre-high temple with an ornate, Greek-style façade.
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leana
(Leana)
#1