PHOTOS OF
JORDAN
Aqaba
These are
"thumbnail" pictures. Click on them to open a larger
version.
Although Aqaba is an
important commercial centre in Jordan, both because of its
port and because of the duty free shops, for the tourist the
most important attraction is undoubtedly the sea. The beaches
are small and are rather close to the port, the public
beaches do tend to be rather dirty, but the temperature of
the water is wonderful, and at least there is sand to lie on,
unlike most of the resorts in Sinai. The hotel beaches are
kept clean and free of underwater growth, it is well worth
paying a small sum for non residents to relax and swim there.
This
photo shows one of the public beaches, with glass bottomed
boats waiting for custom. This is one of the not to be missed
excursions in Aqaba : a trip out towards the reefs and a look
at some of the colourful fish to be found in the waters of
the Marine Peace Park. If you can't afford a trip as far as
the reefs, a ride on the water is still welcome, allowing you
to escape from the heat of the town, which can sometimes be
intense.
Otherwise,
Aqaba is a pleasant town, with plenty of shade in the
non-commercial areas. The mountains are arid and high - Wadi
Rum is some 50 kilometers to the north. The private beaches
as I have said, are very different from the public ones; the
photo on the right shows one of the hotel beaches.
Until
the construction of the Suez canal and later the Hejaz Railway, Aqaba was
the assembly point for pilgrims heading for Mecca. Coming from the west,
from Africa and Egypt, or from the north (Syria, Turkey and points north)
they met up here and camped under the palm trees along the edge of the sea.
The palm groves of Aqaba were famous and were the sight that travellers from
Egypt in particular looked for as they arrived at the Red Sea. When enough
people were gathered, the governor of Aqaba organised a caravan to take them
south to the Moslem Holy City.
One of
the few "tourist sites" in Aqaba is the Mameluke
fort, sometimes called "the Castle". This was the
fort captured so romantically by the Arab force led by Prince
Faisal and T.E. Lawrence during the Arab revolt, and the
ruined part was in fact destroyed by gunfire from British
ships at the time. The fort was built in 1320, but
excavations are showing that there were earlier buildings on
the site. For a long time it was used as a caravanserai,
until refortification by the Turks.
The main mosque in
Aqaba. The second photo shows the call to prayer at
sunset. You can just make out the reflection of the sea.
The mosque is lit up for the sunset prayers.
In
the evening, it is very pleasant to stroll around and
perhaps eat out of doors, whether in the "souk"
of the downtown or along the beach where the many
restaurants are ready to welcome both tourists and
locals.
As you
can see from all these photos, the primary attraction at
Aqaba is always the sea and everything that can be done on,
in or under it!
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 |
| A
view of the Gulf of Aqaba |
The
royal palace on the sea front |
The
Jordanian Royal Family have a palace on the sea front there
(you can pick it out very easily from a boat from the trees
that surround it) which they use extensively in the winter.
It used to be a tradition for the whole family to gather
there for King Hussein's birthday at the beginning of
November, I don't know if this tradition continues.
Here is some of the marine life
which is so fascinating, whether seen when diving,
snorkelling or from a glass bottomed boat
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©Ruth
Caswell 2002
