EJ Latitudes 1/08.qxd - Frontiers Elegant Journeys

Jerash
vate party there in the Palace section of the hotel with the full
view of the pyramids.
I fulfilled my old dream of visiting Abu Simbel and taking a Nile
cruise. Only a 35-minute flight from Aswan and usually done as a
day trip, Abu Simbel is famous for two of the most breathtaking,
best-preserved and enormous temples in Egypt. It is awe-inspiring
to enter the Great Temple of RA-Harakhre carved out of a solid
rock in the 13th century BC and flanked by four colossal statues of
enthroned Ramses II, more than 60-feet high.
The Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard Abercrombie & Kent’s
Sun Boat IV, a luxurious 80-guest vessel, was one of the trip highlights.
A cruise offers a relaxing and most efficient way of seeing
some wonderful temples along the Nile in Kom Ombo and Edfu
while enjoying a comfortable, modern, “floating hotel” base for
three nights. An Egyptian Night Party and whirling dervish performance
were a lot of fun. Everyone had a good time modeling galabeas
and practicing belly dancing — an excellent aerobic workout.
The chef did an outstanding job. I particularly enjoyed his delicious
desserts, especially the pistachio tarts.
The best choices for a 7-night Nile cruise are, in my opinion, the
Sun Boat III, an elegant 36-guest boutique-style yacht and the 52-
guest Oberoi Zahra, the most recent addition to the fleet of luxury
yacht-style cruisers. I inspected both during my recent trip.
From Cairo I flew to Amman, capital of Jordan, a surprisingly modern
and cosmopolitan city. Internationally, Jordan enjoys a reputation as
the most stable and safe country in the Middle East, and rightfully
so. I felt very comfortable there and found Jordanians to be hospitable,
open-minded and easy going. Many are well educated and
speak English. Begging and high pressure selling techniques, so typical
in many Middle East countries, are nearly nonexistent.
Culturally, I found Jordan to be a remarkable destination with literally
thousands of ancient Greek, Roman, Muslim, Christian and
Crusader ruins and archaeological sites. Jordan is also rich in
Biblical history and sites, including the baptism site of Jesus on the
banks of the River Jordan; Mount Nebo, from where Moses saw
the Promised Land and where he died; and the tomb of Aaron in
Petra, to name only a few.
I took a day trip to Jerash, 30 miles north of Amman. It is one of
the most extensive, dramatic and best-preserved Roman provincial
cities in the world and one of the oldest in the Middle East with a
more than 6,500-year history.
Nothing prepares you for the grandeur of the Wadi Rum desert.
Also known as the “Valley of the Moon,” it is a UNESCO World
Heritage site because of its incredible biodiversity and outstanding
beauty. I have been to the desert in Arizona, the Sahara, the Kara
Kum and the Kyzyl Kum deserts of Central Asia — they all have
their own appeal, but Wadi Rum is one of the most striking natural
phenomena I have ever seen.
The site of David Lean’s film Lawrence of Arabia, Wadi Rum is full
of mystical multicolored granite, basalt and sandstone rock formations.
They are pierced by corridors of red sand, split by canyons
and ravines, and spanned by naturally formed rock bridges to create
a nearly surrealistic atmosphere. I took a 4x4 jeep excursion
and had an opportunity to enjoy not only its tranquility but also a
gorgeous sunset. We visited a Bedouin camp and were treated to
delicious herbal tea. For those with a sense of adventure, it’s possible
to spend a night in the desert.
My trip continued to Petra, a truly amazing and breathtaking place
worthy of its ranking as one of the new Seven Wonders of the
World, also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Siq, a narrow path
that twists and turns between sky-high sandstone cliffs dotted by
small votive niches and shrines, is one of Petra’s most awe-inspiring
natural features. Petra showcases the amazingly well-preserved
Treasury carved deep into the rock and dating from the 1st century
BC. There are a myriad of other unique sites, temples, tombs and
Nabatean dwellings warranting a full day of sightseeing and a second
visit on a Petra by Night tour, a fascinating candlelit excursion
through the Siq. Jordan is also famous for its wonderful Dead Sea
resorts and some of the world’s best diving and snorkeling in the
Red Sea off Aqaba.
With our firsthand destination knowledge and longstanding connections,
Frontiers will take you on a very special trip to this
ancient part of the world.
Natasha Tichy
Natasha Tichy with
guard at Petra The Treasury at Petra Wadi Rum
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