Our trip down to Taba in Egypt was a long one, and not without a bit of intrigue. The trip took roughly 18 hours in total. It began Thursday night about 8:45pm catching a bus from Zarqa to Amman and ended collapsing on the comfy beds in our hotel in Taba about 2:15pm Saturday afternoon. All said it included 3 buses, 1 van, 3 taxis, 1/2 mile of walking, a 50M sprint, 1 highpowered ferry boat, and about 3 hours of sleep mixed in.
The intrigue begins with the fact our trip SHOULD have included one more bus and two less taxis. Gabe and I arrived in the port city of Aqaba, Jordan on the main bus with the tour group. After a few words in Arabic from the tour head the fellow passengers disembarked and began to disperse from the parking lot. We spoke with the tour head who told us in clear enough English to be back at the bus in 20 minutes to transport to the dock for the ferry. So off we went to enjoy the great weather and take a stroll in a nearby park. 20 minutes later we arrived back to the same said spot for the bus but find no bus, no tour head, and no fellow passengers. "It is the Arab world," we say as we find some shade to await the late arrival of our bus and tour.
Fifteen minutes later with still no sign of bus, tour head, or passengers a bit of concern began to creep in. Then concern approached alarm as 15 turned into 25 minutes and we realized we had just given 200 JD and both our passports to a man we had met only a half-hour ago with no more identification than his first name. So with our wallets now light and our identity in the hands of a missing man we needed a plan.
The tour head mentioned needing to go to the Police Station to review passports of non-Jordanians. So I caught a taxi and headed up to find the station and Gabe remained where the bus was supposed to be. I didn't see the bus or anyone associated with the tour at the Police Station and was bit nervous to hang around since my passport was not in my possession. Then Gabe called saying he met another worker from the tour company who was saying we were late and had missed the bus and likely now the ferry as well. I rushed back and then we jumped into a taxi and with a flourish of Arabic between the driver and the tour rep off we went. Our driver did all taxi drivers proud cruising past 120 km/h on the open road and handling the parking lot of the dock like a slalom course. The highlight was the taxi driver shouting in Arabic on our cell phone to the tour head as we were reversing along on the coastal highway after realizing the directions given us had been incorrect.
Upon finally arriving back at the dock the road way was blocked by numerous tourist buses. So the driver abruptly swerved the taxi up onto the curb and out we came to finish our trip to the ferry with a sprint. No kidding; all passengers aboard, engines running, and gate closing as we raced toward the ferry. We didn't have to make a jump for it as the gangplank gave way but we could have.
From there the excitement let go and the rest of the ferry ride was quite nice. We went up to the viewing deck enjoying the warm sun and cool breeze over the blue green water of the Red Sea. Then some Jordanian guys invited us to join them at their table and we enjoyed Gelatto and conversation with them the rest of the crossing.
Our time in Taba was great, though short. Good food, sand soccer with about 4 nationalities, and snorkeling among coral and some beautiful fish were some highlights.
The intrigue begins with the fact our trip SHOULD have included one more bus and two less taxis. Gabe and I arrived in the port city of Aqaba, Jordan on the main bus with the tour group. After a few words in Arabic from the tour head the fellow passengers disembarked and began to disperse from the parking lot. We spoke with the tour head who told us in clear enough English to be back at the bus in 20 minutes to transport to the dock for the ferry. So off we went to enjoy the great weather and take a stroll in a nearby park. 20 minutes later we arrived back to the same said spot for the bus but find no bus, no tour head, and no fellow passengers. "It is the Arab world," we say as we find some shade to await the late arrival of our bus and tour.
Fifteen minutes later with still no sign of bus, tour head, or passengers a bit of concern began to creep in. Then concern approached alarm as 15 turned into 25 minutes and we realized we had just given 200 JD and both our passports to a man we had met only a half-hour ago with no more identification than his first name. So with our wallets now light and our identity in the hands of a missing man we needed a plan.
The tour head mentioned needing to go to the Police Station to review passports of non-Jordanians. So I caught a taxi and headed up to find the station and Gabe remained where the bus was supposed to be. I didn't see the bus or anyone associated with the tour at the Police Station and was bit nervous to hang around since my passport was not in my possession. Then Gabe called saying he met another worker from the tour company who was saying we were late and had missed the bus and likely now the ferry as well. I rushed back and then we jumped into a taxi and with a flourish of Arabic between the driver and the tour rep off we went. Our driver did all taxi drivers proud cruising past 120 km/h on the open road and handling the parking lot of the dock like a slalom course. The highlight was the taxi driver shouting in Arabic on our cell phone to the tour head as we were reversing along on the coastal highway after realizing the directions given us had been incorrect.
Upon finally arriving back at the dock the road way was blocked by numerous tourist buses. So the driver abruptly swerved the taxi up onto the curb and out we came to finish our trip to the ferry with a sprint. No kidding; all passengers aboard, engines running, and gate closing as we raced toward the ferry. We didn't have to make a jump for it as the gangplank gave way but we could have.
From there the excitement let go and the rest of the ferry ride was quite nice. We went up to the viewing deck enjoying the warm sun and cool breeze over the blue green water of the Red Sea. Then some Jordanian guys invited us to join them at their table and we enjoyed Gelatto and conversation with them the rest of the crossing.
Our time in Taba was great, though short. Good food, sand soccer with about 4 nationalities, and snorkeling among coral and some beautiful fish were some highlights.
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