We celebrated our final night in Jordan with a Beadouin feast! The event was held inside the atrium of our hotel due to the cold temperatures but fabric was hung to simulate dining in tents. Dinner consisted of a variety of salads, vegetables, lamb and chicken but the most delicious food by far was kanafa! Kanafa is a cheesecake-like dessert made from goats’ cheese and caramel traditionally served in Jordan at weddings and other special occasions. The waiters demonstrated how to make kanafa and lucky for us, there were left overs to take to our room for a bedtime snack!
After dinner, a troupe of Bedouin musicians and dancers performed. We were surprised to see a bagpiper enter with the drummer and tambourine player. Although typically associated with Scotland, we learned that bagpipes are believed to have originated in the Middle East – in fact a sculpture with bagpipes dating to 1000 BC was found at an archaeological site in what is now present day Turkey. The Bedouin performers danced, flourished their swords and eventually got the audience to participate in a rousing circle dance… a fun, high energy evening!
The next morning we left the hotel at 7 am to spend the morning at Wadi Rum before heading to the Aqaba airport. Wadi Rum is the magnificent red desert where British officer, T.E. Lawrence, was based during the Arab Revolt of 1917-18. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 and has also been the filming location for many popular movies, including Lawrence of Arabia and more recently, The Martian and Star Wars.
At the visitor’s center, we hopped in a 4×4 jeep with a Bedouin guide to explore the wadi (valley). We stopped at Khazali Canyon to see the bright red sandstone massifs and then did a short hike along a slot canyon to see ancient petroglyphs.
The petroglyphs etched into the rock face depicted human and animal figures. Scientists have dated these drawings from the 8th century BC.
We drove to a large sand dune for a heart pumping climb and an amazing view of the surrounding area. The day was perfectly clear and we could see for miles.
We ended the morning enjoying tea and biscuits in a Bedouin tent at the foot of the dunes, then headed back to visitor’s center and to the airport. Our destination – Marrakech, Morocco!