Jordan pre-amble

 With just a week to go until our next travel adventure I’m not exactly feeling the excitement. While Egypt and Jordan are probably on many people’s bucket lists, I can’t muster the enthusiasm that perhaps I should. I think possibly the main reason is because the trip is an organized tour planned by other people, whereas most of our previous trips have been planned by myself. So we are on a regimented timeline almost every step of the way, which is not usually how I do things. 
A little spontaneity is always nice, and not having to get up at 5 o’clock in the morning to catch a bus or train is even nicer.
  I’m sure once we hit the road my opinion will change and I’ll get motivated or die trying! 
This will be our first trip to the Middle East and probably not our last. 
Looking at the 14 day forecasts for Amman and Cairo we’ll be more concerned about cold than heat, as night time temperatures will be as low as 3 degrees C, and daytime temps in Cairo no higher than 28C- so not much different to a late Spring Day in Calgary
Our trip to Amman, Jordan takes us on a rather circuitous route, first a flight to Chicago with a three hour layover before catching a Royal Jordanian flight across the Atlantic to land in Amman just in time to check in and grab a quick nap. 
The next few days will take us exploring a variety of mostly sandy vistas, the highlight being the ancient ruin of Petra.
 After a few days of exploring Jordan’s various sights we’ll do a final night in Amman before flying to Cairo for the final leg of the trip, - visiting the Pyramids, the Sphinx and other ancient sites before embarking on a 4 night Nile Cruise including a side trip to Abu Simbel, 
 My biggest concern regarding the trip is “ what will they serve us for meals?” and “will 24 Imodium be enough?” 
Friends who have done almost the same trip gave us fairly graphic descriptions of their first few days adjusting. 
In a nutshell “RentAMeal” 
 We’ll leave it at that! 
 Other words of advice included “ don’t make eye contact with vendors, don’t touch something you might like to buy, and regardless of how nice it looks, it’s fake.” 
 I’m sure we’ll have similar and even more tips to share, if and when we make it home. Our travel companions have expressed interest in a balloon ride over the desert , which sounds as safe as going snowmobiling in a Speedo or whitewater rafting in a brass coffin, but I guess we’ll see what happens.
Every trip is a learning experience, if nothing else it offers great stories to put people to sleep at parties! 
 Stay tuned!
 

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