An Example of Intercultural Tolerance at the Crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe – Part 3

Who Killed the Dead Sea?

Although you will not get an answer to the rhetorical question, at least you will be able to somehow feel like a random visitor at the Dead Sea and enjoy the deepest depression in the world, which is shared by Jordan and Israel, since the level of the Dead Sea is currently 431 m below sea level and is thus the lowest point in the world. Over the years, the water level has been lowering both naturally and artificially, as it is exploited by companies from both countries due to the high concentration of magnesium, bromide and potassium, and that is why I symbolically added one meter more than I wrote in the introductory part. The evaporation and exploitation of the Dead Sea also lead to an extremely high concentration of salt, over 34%, which is also the reason for the name because life with such a concentration of salt is simply impossible. Humans are the only living creatures who bathe in the Dead Sea and in which we will certainly not drown, as the density of water is as much as 1.24 kg/l. That's why photos of us reading a newspaper while floating on the sea surface are very popular. But despite the fact that we cannot drown, the Dead Sea is not without danger. The concentration of salt is so high that a little carelessness can damage your eyes, and if you have a fresh scratch or wound, you will feel a burning sensation.

But in addition to the Dead Sea itself, there are also interesting historical and natural sights along the coast. Among the natural hot springs, waterfalls and canyons, the most popular is Wadi Mujib, which is the easiest to enter from the coast of the Dead Sea, and the entrance point with parking is only about an hour's drive from Amman.

An additional hour's drive towards Aqaba is the museum with the sounding name "Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth", and the complex also includes the Lot Cave from the Early Bronze Age, a former Byzantine church, a water tank and some mosaics.

After this stop, there is only a 2-hour-long journey to the coast of the Red Sea, on which there are several smaller settlements, including Bedouin ones.

The Red Sea is not called that because of the blood from the killed Dead Sea

The Red Sea is Jordan's window to the world, and on its shore is also the 7th largest city in Jordan and the only one on the Red Sea - Aqaba.

Aqaba is of course an important port, but at the same time it also has the status of a special economic zone. Aqaba is also a major resort, as the temperature of the Red Sea is around 20 degrees Celsius even in winter. Aqaba is also very popular among divers, as the seabed is rich in corals and fish and other marine inhabitants, and the wrecks of various ships and even airplanes are a special treat.

However, the rich seabed is not only intended for divers. In Aqaba there are a large number of ships with glass bottoms through which you can observe everything you would see during a dive.

Aqaba is not only a seaside city with many beaches and a promenade by the sea, but also a good starting point for two attractions that you definitely don't want to miss in Jordan.

Wadi Rum has nothing to do with the spirit of the same name

Wadi Rum, or the Valley of the Moon, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been depicted as Mars in several Hollywood films. It is an Arabian fairy tale waiting to be discovered. The valley is mostly inhabited by Bedouins, nomads, whose main source of income has recently been tourism. Once inhabited by the Nabateans, Wadi Rum offers the best escape from civilization as we know it. Of course, it is best to arrange an organized tour of the valley in advance, but even otherwise, you will easily find a Bedouin who will offer you a half-day or full-day trip through the desert, and if you wish, dinner and an overnight stay in tents under the stars. In addition to the many natural pearls of the Wadi Rum valley, you will also get to know the filming location of the film Lawrence of Arabia, and once a week you can also take the only train in Jordan, a museum train from the beginning of the last century.

Let's end with the cherry on top

The second and last point of interest in this travelogue, which you can visit both from Amman and from Aqaba, is the historical city of Petra.

Petra is rightfully on the list of the Seven Wonders of the World, as it is an extraordinary architectural achievement that even with modern technology today, I would not dare to attempt. Very briefly – Petra is an ancient city and is one of Jordan's national treasures and by far the most famous and visited tourist attraction. Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. Admired at the time for its sophisticated culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and canals, Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra, where the Nabataeans, Edomites and Romans lived, combined the knowledge and skills of these civilizations. Caravans full of incense, silk, spices and other exotic goods rested in Petra. Petra deserves an entire travelogue, but there is so much written about Petra that you will surely find dozens of pages, so I will rather focus on how to visit Petra.

Petra has a well-marked main entrance near which there is also a huge parking lot, and not far away there is a small museum, which I recommend visiting before visiting the city.

In addition to the main entrance, it is also possible to visit Petra from the other side, and it is important to note that to enter "at the back door" you need to activate your ticket at the main entrance, park your car there (since you will finish the tour there) and take a taxi to the "alternative entrance".

With these words, you have probably already guessed that I myself tackled Petra in this most demanding way, which is also the most attractive, since the treasury is almost the last point that you get to know after about five hours of digging through the rocks and through the history of Petra. For the cherry on the cake, I also visited "Little Petra" or Triclinium, which is located a few minutes' drive from the alternative entrance. Although the Triclinium is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List, you can visit it free of charge.

For those of you who will spend less time to visit Petra, unfortunately, there is no other option than the main route "Al-siq" to the treasury.

This route starts at the Petra Visitor Center, passes the Siq to the Treasury. While most tourists think the route ends at the main attraction of the ancient city, The Treasury, it continues through the Siq, and the royal tombs, along the street between the pillars, and ends at Qasr Al-Bint (Maiden's Palace).

I could certainly end the Jordan trilogy at this point, but as the day ends with the night, let this travelogue also end with a spectacle - a night visit to Petra.

Visiting Petra during the day is stunning, and experiencing it by the light of 1,800 candles is something that is difficult to describe in words. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, they offer you exactly this pampering in Petra. Walk through the Siq to the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) along a candle-lit path and enjoy the Bedouin music in the Treasury.

With this last hint, I say goodbye to the next travelogue and wish you many unforgettable impressions when visiting the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.