Athens to Muscat - The Middle East with a Muse

[Silver Spectre]

A rather ancient sign

 

[Silver Spectre]

More stone arches, and a gate to the secret tunnel out of the castle. Despite the warning not to enter because of extreme danger, one guest had to go down and have a look.

 

Edited November 17, 2018 by Silver Spectre

[Silver Spectre]

View from the top

 

[Silver Spectre]

Original walls, and a long way down. Not very safe though.

[Silver Spectre]

Interestingly we asked this guy to unfurl his flag and pose, which he was happy to do. The other guest offered him some euros, which he refused. We asked the guide to ask him why, and he said he would only take real currency, I.e. local Jordanian, dollars or sterling. What a star! So I gave him a couple of dollars!

[Silver Spectre]

Passageways and a corner room with arrow slits

 

[Silver Spectre]

Rock caves, occupied by Bedouin’s for centuries 

 

[Silver Spectre]

Crumbling walls and a stray helmet

 

[Silver Spectre]

Some stone artefacts recovered during excavations 

 

[Silver Spectre]

Walking around the castle was a little dangerous, nothing in the way of handrails or anything to stop you going to close to the edge, steep steps and some rickety duckboards. Not the faint hearted and definitely not elf’n’safety compliant 

[Silver Spectre]

Bent sign with the local name of the castle

 

[Silver Spectre]

And a final shot of the inside of the ‘shop’ in the tourist office. Then a rather shorter ride back to Aqaba and the Muse, enlightened by our guide trying to explain Islam, it’s origins and it’s schisms. As a practicing Muslim from an enlightened country he told us that he was appalled that the West and especially Europe allowed our cultures to be hijacked by Muslims imposing themselves and their cultural ideas and dress on our society in a completely disrespectful way.

 

I realise that there are some who post on here that may well dispute or argue the toss about the above, however this is just a report of the end of a very interesting day.

 

[jimbri]

Wonderful photos!

[WesW]

Thanks for continuing to share with us your wonderful Middle East cruise adventure with terrific snaps (and back stories),  Mr. Silver.  And, very warm regards to Mrs. Silver.

[Silver Spectre]

3 hours ago, WesW said:

Thanks for continuing to share with us your wonderful Middle East cruise adventure with terrific snaps (and back stories),  Mr. Silver.  And, very warm regards to Mrs. Silver.

Thanks Wes, and all the best to you and Ida.

[Silver Spectre]

Finally back in Aqaba for a nice Jordanian/Israeli sunset

 

[Silver Spectre]

After a relaxing evening back onboard the Muse, and a brief overnight sail to Safaga,  it was our third early start and ready for the 4 hour convoyed bus ride to Luxor, along with our armed escorts.

[Silver Spectre]

After an uneventful ride across the desert we entered a town about 1/2 from Luxor

[Silver Spectre]

And then to a very fertile section, running alongside a canal or small river

 

Edited November 28, 2018 by Silver Spectre

[Silver Spectre]

Loads of police/security

[Silver Spectre]

We also received a big welcome from all the school kids we passed

[Silver Spectre]

[Emtbsam]

On 10/19/2018 at 2:55 AM, Tothesunset said:

Am trying to persuade OH that we need to take the Spirit Athens-Dubai itinerary for Nov 2020. She has 2 objections: 1. Leaving the dog for 3 weeks and 2. Pirates. 

If you do end up in a cell in Mogadishu please don't tell her. 

TTS - I just saw this post since we are seriously considering taking the Athens - Athens - Dubai in November 2020.

[Tothesunset]

49 minutes ago, Emtbsam said:

TTS - I just saw this post since we are seriously considering taking the Athens - Athens - Dubai in November 2020.

We booked while on board the Whisper. Very much looking forward to seeing a part of the world we know only a little. 

[Silver Spectre]

And at last - Luxor