Author: admin

Aqaba, Aqaba, Jordan 14 August 2013 The observant amongst you will note there’s been no blog for a few days which has caused some to worry about my welfare. All is well and all will become clear. Back to Aqaba…… Breakfast is extremely busy and noisy with Arabs shouting and screaming over their hummus. It’s… Read more

Aqaba, Jordan 13 August 2013 First conversation of the day with a native. 12 year old postcard seller, “Where you from?”. England. “Luvly jubbly”, he replies. Walk down the path to the entrance of Petra’s Siq. Accosted by every single tout with a horse, “You wanna horse?”. No. If I want a horse I’d have… Read more

Petra, Jordan 12 August 2013 Same driver today as yesterday. He’s good for a laugh and head through the suburbs of Amman to Madaba. St George’s church houses the 2000 year old mosaic depicting the Dead Sea, Jerusalem et al. Much smaller than I remember but now there’s an interesting information centre describing the mosaic.… Read more

Amman, Jordan 11 August 2013 Travel the route from Amman to Irbid that I used to take whilst working here and it’s as I remember. Arrive Irbid and see the hospital to the east which was the construction project we worked on for three months. The driver enters Irbid and follows the route he thinks… Read more

Amman, Jordan 10 August 2013 Transfer to airport and in terminal building without being kidnapped. Yay. Queue for passport control. It. Takes. Ages. The officer is taking his time. Sloooowwww ggggooooiiinng. My turn and he wants to know where the pink exit slip is. I have no pink exit slip. He points in the direction… Read more

Beirut, Lebanon 9 August 2013 Boom, boom, boom. Went the beat of the bass. Room is under the 6th floor rooftop bar. It’s gone midnight. Victor Meldrew rings reception to complain about the noise as he has to be up early. Another room upgrade on top of the upgrade given at check-in. Shift my gear… Read more

Beirut, Lebanon 8 August 2013 It’s 1100hrs as I walk into central Beirut but something is wrong. Am the only Joe Public about. Do have company though. Every few hundred yards are a mix of private security personnel and armed military. Do they know something I don’t? Ramadan finished yesterday – someone had rung the… Read more

Beirut, Lebanon 7 August 2013 It’s roasting hot even at 1000hrs as I walk to the observatory tower in the heart of Nicosia. It’s actually the top floor of Debenhams. Great 360 views of Nicosia and surrounds. The mountains rise in the Turkish north with arid plains to the south. Those pesky Turks have painted… Read more

Nicosia, Cyprus  6 August 2013 Despite the train bed being nicely firm and comfortable, there’s just one problem. It’s 2ft too short. Have to sleep in the foetal position all night. Or rather, I have to rest in the foetal position as sleep is not something that really happens. Text from a friend in the… Read more

Overnight train to Adana, Turkish Mediterranean Coast, Turkey 5 August 2013 An unscheduled day at leisure in Ankara. Was meant to be on the day train to Adana but for reasons outlined in the Istanbul blog I’m having to take the night train departing this evening. I really am the only guest in the hotel.… Read more