Back To Amman

A leisurely start to the day, as we didn't need to leave until lunch time. After a late breakfast, we walked around Aqaba, and visited the ruins of the 4th century church which they say may be one of the oldest purpose built churches anywhere. Of course, it has decayed severely, and was mostly buried by sands until it was dug up a few years ago, probably to build a modern road amongst all of the modern building program going on. It seemed to be built of mud bricks, and didn't display a high degree of craftsmanship, but was interesting nonetheless.

When we got back to the hotel, we had a coffee on the footpath next door with a few others, then went to pack and do some last minute shopping for lunch on the bus.

We all departed on time around noon, but then seemed to drive in circles looking for the local supermarket for a while, until we tripped over it. After replenishing our supplies yet again, it was a 5 hour trip straight back to Amman along the main Desert Highway, stopping only for a quick pit stop, and a picture of the rock that Lot's Wife was meant to have turned in to when she looked back on Sodom and Gomorrah as they fled. There is an alternative pillar in Israel, and my memory of the biblical incident is that she was turned into a pillar of salt anyway, but we took the obligatory photograph to keep everybody happy.

Back to the same hotel we stayed in at the start of our tour, and they still haven't got the room keys working, so nothing has changed. Went out to the 'Windmill' restaurant, which had an arabic name that of course I've forgotten. However they are very famous for their Mansafs, which they serve with a great flourish. Mansaf is a traditional Jordanian dish made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice and is the national dish. It's one of only two dishes on the menu, so organising the bill is very easy. TripAdvisor awards proudly dominate the walls, so they are very well know to locals and tourists alike. A great place for our farewell meal, on what has been a great trip. Most people are departing early in the morning, but a small few are hanging around tomorrow. We are the only ones staying on.