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Summer of 2002
Wednesday 7 August
Came the dawn and no sleep. By nine it was time to get my prescription sorted. With only four days of medication left problems were looming.
Quiet roads and an even quieter hospital gave cause for concern, but a very effective Philippino nurse in A and E put those ghosts in abeyance.
Medical file lost, return home for remaining medication so that correct can be prescribed (Tenormin). Doctor seen and seven day rule taken care of to cover the shortfall. The pharmacist raised a query about the dosage (quite rightly) but was assuaged by family history and details of the impending operation.
Now to get the finals sorted prior to getting off to the airport.
One thirty and time to head for the airport. Leaving the car at the airport was less than comforting. Instructions did not seem to make their way through clearly.
Plane boarding was on time, but a well used plane. No headphone sockets on many seats, not just ours.
The meal and drinks were quite passable. Landing led into a visa queue. At least the bags should be waiting for us for a change!
Still ended up waiting for the bags.
No car, finally phoned and told cancelled, however reset for the morrow and took taxi to Intercon where matters were more ‘organised’.
Food ordered, eventually (min 30 min possibly 45 min) came cold, phoned Room service and returned food with waiter (11:30). No response by 11:45, although the second attempt at food did arrive soon after. Not cold, but not far off.
Thursday 8 August Nice bed.
Breakfast, 'Like everything here, not very hot' was an apt quote from Pen.
Call from Mr Hadad at 10:30, car PU 12-12: 15. Me in the foyer 12:00, Pen ready in the room!
12:30 no contact so rang Mr Hadad, again and got Mona!
12:45, still waiting, but finally!
Odometer reading: 72799
Easy drive to the Dead Sea and swift check-in followed by a wander round the hotel and grounds. The MP3 seems to work, but no sound goes through the TV.
Pen books in for a Special treatment on Saturday and a call to Tel Aviv shows that calls are not needed unless there is a problem.
As part of the wanderings we stop for drinks at the pool bar. I knock back four martinis to Pen's pint. Come the evening meal and an aperitif before dinner has me with one coke and Pen with three vodkas.
The buffet meal was pleasant enough and taken with a Jordanian red wine (St George), but come the close Pen was reeling from the combined effects of the beer, vodka and wine so we wobbled back to the room and lights out.
Friday 9 August
A very late rise, 12:05, so no chance of an inclusive breakfast! An alarm is set for tomorrow.
Head off to Mount Nebo and miss the short cut turning. Eventually get there and pass on paying an arm and a leg.
Turn and head for Ma'en and follow the road all the way down to a hotel, but again paying to have a five minute look round did not make sense. Back up the hill and a 'No Way Through' Dead Sea road found up finding out way there was no way through - a critical bridge was out! Attempts to bypass the trouble failed badly so back up and return the long way.
Dinner at Luigi's and music from Andre Bocelli: Sogno 7 3145472222 3.
Saturday 10 August
By the pool for me all day, lobstered, while Pen drifted in and out between her Spa appointments. She got salted, mudded and massaged. We then both went down to the sea for a couple of floats before inching our ways back to the room for a degree of recovery before an early dinner at Chopsticks.
Sunday 11 August
Up and into breakfast for about ten then back to the room to crash out for an hour before going for a short drive. Back and off to the pool in the cool of the afternoon.
Dinner was not at the Grill - shut, so a second run at Luigi's. A double rap at the belly dancer, first in the amphitheatre and then at the bar before retiring to the room for a spot of R and R.
Monday 12 August
Struggled to get up for ten and stumbled down to breakfast. Once watered and fed, headed for the room and packed. Off by twelve for the multi-detoured run to Petra, finally arriving there at just short of four. Some very expansive scenery en route.
Once at the hotel, told of a resort hotel 20 minutes drive away, so dinner set for tonight.
Dinner had in the cool of the evening, but with only one restaurant getting in and out of the seat was frequent. The meal was good, although buffet is not hard to lose out on.
Tuesday 13 August
It was a struggle to get up for ten, followed by a notable stumble down to breakfast. However, several coffees later and some semblance of life, we staggered off to the Petra ruins. Some time later and after a steady down grade we ended up at almost the low point of the day. A donkey ride took the height up to an out of the way site, like many others in the area.
After the donkey ride back there is time for a drink. Next a camel ride to the treasury and then a carriage ride to the start, this part being a ride in more than one sense!
Before heading up, a visit to the bar was required for alternate refreshment. Once lubricated, time to clean up after the dust and animals. Bathed and rested it came to time for dinner which was had on the rooftop.
Wednesday 14 August
A struggled rise for ten, breakfast and then a drive around the nearby countryside before a laze watching films and a wasted afternoon.
Dinner at the Crowne Plaza by the pool then a repair to the rooftop for Pen to have a Hubbly Bubbly before retiring after the days ‘hardships’.
Thursday 15 August
Struggled up for nine thirty then went to lounge by the pool after breakfast for a few hours before a lazy wander to a few shops then return to pack ready for a fast take off tomorrow.
Dinner in the hotel. Buffet accepted by Pen and what an error.
Friday 16 August
Breakfast was missed despite two alarms. Once up packing was completed and the road lay before us.
Panoramic vistas came and went before the eventual turn off for Wadi Rum. A long way up the road and more rolling vistas and we cross the soon to be new visitor's centre and soon after the existing centre which is in much need of upgrading.
In the confusion of what to do we elect for a two hour trip visiting three sites. Do it yourself is out of the question. An expensive bite to eat and a like priced drink and we start to set off. A little more confusion and we grind off in the old if not ancient truck. A change of driver and head for the sand, well grit!
The first location is a spring, halfway up a mountain - we decline the climb.
The next is a good wadi, dry at present with some notable dry pool formations and climbs if one wanted to dehydrate. I took a brief up and quick down.
The third is a rock bridge which did not seem too high looking up, but which looked more looking down! A quick scurry and drop and the daunting is made less so, but more care given to the delicacies of the digital than my own safety.
The road led on to a detour into Aqaba via the container port area. A wildly parked motorbike cop threw our first entry to the Movenpick, which we completed on the second pass.
Rooms situation was tight. Offered singles for one night we declined and ended up with a building site view! A drink and reference to Ra'ed gave us a review for the morrow. Information was also obtained regarding a dive centre (2017035).
Turns out the 'centre' is 15 km south of Aqaba so we head off to find it.
Found, looked at and info gathered we head back to the hotel and check out the beach. It and the pools are all busy. Pen is not too impressed by the distance to the beach and the crowd. The distance I can hack, but I have the same dislike of the crush.
Dinner calls and we make our way to the Red Sea Grill down on the beach. The meal does not go well for Pen and is capped by the act that they do not have Remy, either there or at any of the other outlets. For my part they do not have Martini; Cinzano is the very poor alternate.
The run of disasters does not end. I forgot my camera back at the Grill and while I go for it Pen encounters a faulty light which she attempts to report by phone. She finally resorts to physically presenting herself at the desk where I encounter her. By half past midnight the light and running toilet are both fixed and Pen has cleared the mini bar. An attempt at getting a drink from the bar itself proved futile - they had closed!
All in all, Movenpick Aqaba had gone down like a platinum balloon (an expensive version of a lead balloon) on its first day!
Saturday 17 August
Reveille at 8:00, the troops surfaced ten minutes later and went straight down for breakfast.
Mahmoud, Ali Hayyan not on till 9:30
Dive I: Rainbow reef
6 kg, visibility 10+ Puffer, frog, real stone, cleaner shrimps, clowns, turtle, flat, shoal of blues and assorted but not a lot of others and lots of jellies.
Dive 2: Eel Canyon
6 kg, visibility 10+ Lots of scorpions of all sorts of colours, also puffers one turtle, pineapple and triangular box.
Dinner was Italian with accompaniment from a local Jordanian Dance group down in the garden. After deciding what we wanted we were informed that half the items were not available. Sweet proved entertaining as apparent confusion abounded.
No Remy so Pen settled for whiskey while I downed my Cointreau at the hilarious price of nearly seven quid.
Sunday 18 August
Dive 1: Gorgonian I
4 kg, visibility 10+ Out through a coral canyon to scorpions, banners, wrasse, parrots, unicorns, straight sea horse, very friendly turtle. Return too far South so long run back to the canyon.
Cocktails on the return to the hotel.
Dinner started with a look at the a la Carte at the buffet Restaurant. From there we moved off to find out about some of the other hotels and after a drive out of town returned to the Radisson and an investigation as to their availables.
We drove on and ended up at the Fish Market, just behind the Movenpick. Food was acceptable and they had wine too. Once done we made for the bar and Pen tidied off a triple whiskey while I went for a coffee and cherry brandy.
Lights out.
Monday 19 August
Dive 1: Saudi Border
4 kg, visibility 10+ In sight if the Saudi Border, actually closer than that. Straight sea horses and lots of soft and hard coral again, scorpion, stone, banners, angel, bonking nudes, assorted and various littles, wrasse, triangular box, lizard
Dive 2: Gorgonian n
4 kg, visibility 10+ Down the side of a jetty and wait for the crew to assemble then down one metre for the start of a steady drop to 20 m with loads of coral and the usual assorted small fish ending with a Gorgonian of fame. On the return still quiet but a scorpion spotted and a spaniel. In the shallows before closure another couple of puffers. Also noted straight sea horses, banners and angels. Nudes also noted, Pen with a black and white.
Return to hotel and had cocktails, Pen with a baby blue angel and me with an Apricot Breeze since a National lack of pineapple juice barred the first request for a Mai Tai.
Dinner was attempted at 'The Captains Restaurant', but being non alcoholic Pen did not stay too long and we returned to the Fish Market. After the exhausting climb back up to the hotel our bodies were not fit for much.
Tuesday 20 August
Up bright and early for ten and just in time for breakfast. Fed and watered we returned to the room, packed and relaxed before calling for help with the bags. Checkout was quick and efficient and we were looking for air for the tyre before twelve. A couple of failed calls and I had enough and headed for the open road.
Before hitting the main out-road we picked up a policeman looking for a lift to Amman. I tended to drive 20 km above the speed limit giving an average of 100 kph.
By Wadi Rum we did stop and get air into the tyre. At 150 km from Amman a lorry that had distributed its load over the road slowed us to a stop and as we moved off the road rim spun off despite being plastic tied on. Our police passenger was informed of this by observant police who had just cleared the road.
Reassembled and our passenger asked if he could drive and, after checking with Pen, agreed. He averaged 150 kph for the remainder of the trip!
Finding the Intercon took a little time. It should have taken half an hour, we found it an hour and a half later after circling it completely!
Once there and booked in, we turned tail as we saw the three quarter bed. Half an hour later, whiled away in the bar, we went to the newly allocated room with a decent bed to find it was a suite. We locked the interconnecting door, good job since 'people' did arrive!
Pen downed a couple of shorts before relaxing and I was tasked with booking dinner; Indian for eight.
The meal was in the open on the Terrace together with all the other eateries. It was quiet, but over the next couple of hours it became difficult to find even one free seat.
Pen enjoyed her food although it was not spiced very much and I weaved my way around the spiced tastes.
A sheisha for Pen and the cigar for me were well in advance of the Remy and Cointreau although we finally managed to get them
Wednesday 21 August
Late breakfast followed by return of the car and then a lounge by the pool (tan top up). By three it was time to move so we headed for the Gold Souk.
Ten minutes after arriving we were looking for other things to do and twenty minutes later saw us looking for a taxi back to the hotel.
Dinner was a low key affair since neither of us had any great hunger. A bottle of Lebanese wine and a snack at Mama Juanita's sufficed.
Time to watch some TV
Thursday 22 August
Up after the second alarm and tumble down for breakfast: a minimal repast for both of us, but, hopefully, sufficient to tie us over flight food. By nine fifteen we were on our way down to check out and get our, booked, taxi - an unmarked vehicle with a very good driver in charge.
Arrival at the airport was noted by the take-over by a porter who guided us through the arrivals area. Tickets checked and luggage offered we then had airport tax, etc to pay with our last JD 10. Once in the lounge we noted that our twelve o'clock flight was at two!
Duty Free, although not small occupied us very briefly, the longest time spent on a bag which, although a good size, was heavily overpriced.
1:40 and on the board the gate is stated as open. An announcement followed and, after Pen had a last cigarette we wandered over to the gate. The local board also states the gate is open, but we are intercepted - personnel have not arrived to process the papers so no acceptance to the departure lounge. Since boarding the plane to get here we have listed these events as typical, so why change a long standing habit?
The gate finally opens at ten past and we go through after the queue subsides at twenty past.
The plane was appointed in far, far better condition than the inbound flight.
Into Abu Dhabi for six and through Immigration by 6:50. Camry picked up and time to make the final leg back to the flat.
Depart Odometer: 37015, Representative: Sohail.
Pick Up Odometer: 37028.
Gee, but it's great to be back home even though the car tyres are all but flat!
Friday 23 August
Recovery and sort for Saturday for both of us even though Pen does not have to go to work!