JORDAN
Finally Spending Time with my Mum
21st September - 30th September | 2023
As you might remember, I am currently skipping the blog about my time arriving in Israel, my gate to the Middle East. So the blogs about the Middle East will start with my crossing into Jordan:
The next morning it was border crossing into Jordan. Leaving Israel was pretty straightforward, even though there were fees involved in leaving the country. The Jordan side was also easy, a bit chaotic though as I arrived at the same time as 10 Italian bikers and a bus of tourists. The border staff was super friendly and helpful, so the whole process was done in 2 hours! So welcome to Jordan! In Aqaba, I went to get a local SIM card and some cash and then I was on my way up North, this time this side of the Jordan River. To begin with, it was a really nice landscape, but later on, it got a bit boring as the road was just a straight line. That night I stayed in a cheap hotel in the mountains in Kerak.
The next morning, on my way to Amman, I passed the famous mosaique of Umm ar-Rasas. At lunchtime, I arrived at the hotel in Amman. I got surprisingly fast through the traffic as it was Friday prayer time.
In the afternoon I searched around the area for food, but the little choices around were closed on Friday. Friday is their weekend, in this case, dealt like Sunday. So dinner was just some biscuits from the mini-supermarket next door.
The next morning I went to find the laundry as my smelly, sweaty clothes were due again. On Saturday morning, I found an open cafe shop - hurray! Later that day finally my mum arrived. So fantastic to see my mum after such a long time!!! At least we had dinner in the hotel that night, which was included in our 1-week Jordan tour. Oh, and a German biker with his African Twin is here in the hotel and due to the reception, he will be on our tour too. How cool is that?!
The next morning our small group of 7 got picked up by Mohamed, our tour guide for the week.
We went to see the antique city of Jerash. It was huge and very well preserved, compared to all of the old Roman sites I visited in Italy, Greece and Turkiye. Unfriendly we seemed to be 'lucky' with our guide as he knows only the basics. So not much information about this site; and the rest of the journey.
After that, we visited the famous mosaique of Madaba. From there we went 'down' to the Dead Sea to the hotel where we will stay for two nights. So once settled in our room we went to the 'beach'. Due to various factors, the water level has decreased over the past 30 years and it looks like it will continue...I wonder how low the lever will be in about 10 years!
After dinner, we sat together with some of the group at the bar for Happy Hour. I was glad I only ordered a small beer, as I received two ;-)
The next day was our 'day off', so we took it easy. Of course, we went down to the beach to test the floating effect of the Dead Sea. First, we plastered in mud and then we went carefully into the water. Due to the high salt level in the water, you are not allowed to swim or put your face into the water. Not an easy task, but once you have the techniques it is nice and relaxing.
The next day we drove to Petra, where we stayed for 2 nights in a hotel, close to the main gate. In the afternoon my mum and I had a stroll through the town. The next morning we had an early start and it was a long day, and hot. It was already impressive walking through the canyon, but then you see 'The Treasure' for real - the one you always see in pictures. How amazing is that, standing here with my mum!!! After taking pictures we carried on along the valley as, of course, more to see. We went a bit through the rocks to see even more of the buildings carved into rocks! After some lunch, we strolled back to the hotel where we had a well-deserved rest. After dinner, we went back for 'Petra at Night'. What a rip-off!! You would think nowadays it would be possible to make a spectacular light- or laser show, but nothing like that!! Very disappointed we went back to the hotel and fell asleep as soon as we hit the pillow.
The next morning it was only a short trip to Wadi Rum, the next highlight of this tour. We arrived around lunchtime and the air conditioner of our bubble tent was really struggling to cool it down. At about 17h00 we went for a jeep tour through Wadi Rum, which ended in a breathtaking sunset. Back at the camp, we had a very delicious dinner, the first one on that trip, and even some entertainment.
The next morning we left early to Amman, where we arrived around lunchtime. We requested a sightseeing tour with Mahmood, but finally, it was another rip-off and not worse the money. Back at the hotel, we had a nice dinner all together, reviewing the tour. Then it was time to say Goodbye as the others will leave already tomorrow. Wolfgang and his wife Nanda, the owner of the Africa Twin, will drive to Jerusalem. He will ship then his bike from Haifa to Greece, with the same agent I used (and just to jump into the future: he just made it on time!).
The next day my mum and I went first to a bike garage called Bi-Wheeler as I found a broken spring on my rear break padel. The owner spoke fluent English, so we agreed that I would pass by with my bike around 18h00. After that, we went with an Uber taxi downtown, where we had a stroll around. I needed some more dried fruits and a Hijab for the next leg of my journey; at least to have one, when needed. There was not much to visit, so we took an Uber back to the hotel after lunch. And again it was time for me to repack my luggage, as tomorrow I will start to travel South to the border of Saudi Arabia.
At about 18h00 I arrived at the garage where already some other people were. How cool is that, finally I met some biker!!! Whilst my bike was fixed by Assel, I had a beer, a real beer, with the others. They told me about the Biker Village, just on the outskirts of Amman, a biker hub. I agreed with one of the bikers, to meet there tomorrow around lunchtime after my mum has left.
After the bike was fixed, it was time to have dinner with my mum, our last one together for the next 3 months. Amazing how time flies by!
I hope you enjoyed the very long-awaited blog. I must admit, just to be honest, I lost a bit of the muse, which you probably realised in the above text. I hope the muse finds its way back into my writing and I hopefully will soon entertain you with more stories about my travel in the Middle East. In the meantime, enjoy a 0% beer ;-)
Places | Cities:
Aqaba, Amman, Jerash, Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum.
Driven km | Trip:
Total | Steffi: 23065 km
Information Border Crossings:
INTO JORDAN:
Registration with border control your vehicle.
VISA (eVisa registration) and passport control.
Paying entrance fee for vehicle and person (JOD 20), payable by credit card possible.
TRIP-TIP = Carnet de passagem registration.
Vehicle insurance (JOD 27).
In my case no luggage check.
Even chaotic all super smooth and all very friendly and helpful.
Maintenance | Breakdown:
A metal piece of the rear brake leaver broke - fixed at Bi-Wheeler in Amman.
Health issues:
./.
Special thanks to:
My Mum to visit Jordan together!
Bi-Wheeler to be such a cool place and meeting finally some bikers.