Andi did such a wonderful job on describing everything I am amazed at what she absorbs on a trip like this. I saw her working on this during our sea time on the Nile.

It was so sad to say goodbye to so many of the group. Jim and Pam are going on to South Africa for a safari at all my favorite places before joining the Voyager in Cape Town. Sure sounded good to me! Been so nice to see so many people and we had a great time together.

Well we are now in Jordan.

One problem at the airport in Cairo with one couple having trouble with their air ticket but Hossam with his normal efficiency solved the issue. The flight was easy, nice plane and a snack on a one hour flight. Arriving in Jordan it was nice to see our new tour company at the immigration area to help us get our visa and passport control handled. Then we collected the bags and after a full xray of the luggage we left on a large bus for the 13 of us to transfer to the Grand Hyatt hotel. Lots of beautiful homes along the way and much greener countryside. Ariving in Amman we saw typical American stores, True Value Hardware, Pizza Hut and many other familiar names. Lots of signs in English. Reasonable traffic nothing like the craziness of Cairo.

The hotel is fine not of the level we had in Cairo but this is just a transfer hotel. Andi, Doug and Susan our true "energizer bunnies" ate a quick lunch and then went off to explore. Be interesting to hear their stories on their return.

Tonight the five of the group are going to a local Arabic food restaurant recommended by the hotel just two blocks away. Ken and I are not joining them with my allergy to onions do not think I can handle that. The rest of us are staying at the hotel for dinner tonight. They have a Vietnamese Restaurant (not my thing) Italian and regular American food restaurant.

Nice to have a down afternoon, caught up on my email and then four of us decided to play pooch. They would not allow us to play in a public place like the lobby of the hotel. Gambling is illegal and even if we are not playing for money it is not allowed. Too hard to play in the rooms so we decided to give it a pass.

Tomorrow we leave at 8.30 am for a tour of Amman and a few interesting spots along the way to Petra. Overnight in the Movenpick at Petra. I saw this hotel when we visited Petra last time and it looked really nice. Hope it is as nice inside as it looks on the outside.

Then the next morning we visit Petra, I am sure the highlights group will be back after four hours but the "do it all group" may never return. To the Monastery and beyond!