Aquaba Nights

As a result in a change in the ship’s itinerary, we stopped in Aqaba Jordan for an overnight. After we finished work, around midnight, me and Sherwin went out to try and find anything that would still be open. We weren’t feeling too hopeful that anything would be open at all.

However, as we started to walk from the ship we could hear strange weaving music playing from various discos and bars. We decided against taking a taxi into town, instead walking along the waterfront.

The waterfront was alive with little cafes – with plastic chairs on the beach front serving tea, coffee, and hookah pipes. Some of them smelled a little bit like they were hiding a camel somewhere. The ship is in the background of this picture.

You can see the giant flagpole in the next blurry picture – I think it is the second biggest in the world, and can be seen from three different countries. We walked towards this and towards Aqaba castle.

There was no food at these beach places and we continued towards the castle where we bought some Fantas

Soon someone pointed us towards the restaurants. Jordanians are very friendly.

“Fresh Checkin”

The restaurant had such a large selection of food – from bbq chicken to homous, donairs, and felafel – and of course, fresh flatbread.

This meal was only $7! Bread, fries, bbq chicken, homous, yoghurt, a kind of tzaziki with tomatoes inside, and felafel.

The giant felafel there had a small center of a spicy red pepper mixture. These were hands down the best felafel I have ever had. I’m usually not a fan – but the chef had given me a sample and they were perfectly cooked and so amazing.

This is the view from our table on the street. We could see all the action! Not many ladies about this time of the evening. In fact, I was the only one out at this hour and it was noticed.

After our late night snack we wandered around, and some shops were still open. Including one selling bedding. Who would need this kind of shop to be open at one in the morning? And isn’t it a little warm for this kind of bedding?

As we neared the ship again we decided to go back to this place for a tea and a hookah pipe.

This is where they prepare the coals to light the hookah. Look at the camels holding it up.

We took a front-row seat and the friendly owner’s nephew sits with us and chats.

Across the water we could see the lights of Israel. Our new friend said he had never been there – it requires a visa. He explained how a felafel sandwich might cost a whole dollar there, whereas here in Jordan it would cost you a quarter.