| Introduction to Jordan and Egypt 26 Feb to 17 March 2006 |
From 26 February to 17 March 2006 we visited Jordan and Egypt on a tour organized by
Overseas Adventure Travel. We were in Jordan for about five days and in Egypt about two
weeks.
Overseas Adventure Travel. We were in Jordan for about five days and in Egypt about two
weeks.
Jordan, Egypt, and adjacent territories served as the cradle of western civilization starting
about five thousand years ago. Most of the area was under local control until about 400BC,
when Jordan and Egypt came under Roman rule. About 400AD both countries became part of
the Byzantine Empire until the Arabian Moslem conquest around 650AD. The generally
unsuccessful Christan Crusades took place around 1100AD, and both countries were absorbed
by the Ottoman Empire until 1918, followed by administration by the British. Jordan and
Egypt achieved independence in the early 1950's.t
about five thousand years ago. Most of the area was under local control until about 400BC,
when Jordan and Egypt came under Roman rule. About 400AD both countries became part of
the Byzantine Empire until the Arabian Moslem conquest around 650AD. The generally
unsuccessful Christan Crusades took place around 1100AD, and both countries were absorbed
by the Ottoman Empire until 1918, followed by administration by the British. Jordan and
Egypt achieved independence in the early 1950's.t
In the 1970's Jordan and Egypt were encouraged by the U.S. Government to make peace with
Israel. Now Israel and Egypt are the two largest recipients of U.S. aid, with Jordan not far
behind.
Israel. Now Israel and Egypt are the two largest recipients of U.S. aid, with Jordan not far
behind.
We traveled to Jordan and Egypt mainly because of our interest in the many ancient
archaeological sites in those two countries and to learn more about what those countries are
like today.
archaeological sites in those two countries and to learn more about what those countries are
like today.
Below is a map of Jordan and Egypt, with the names of some of the areas we visited underlined
in red. From New York we flew to Cairo, Egypt and on a connecting flight continued to Amman,
Jordan. After taking bus excursions in the Amman area we drove south to Petra. From Petra
we bused back to the Amman airport and flew to Cairo. From Cairo we flew south to Luxor and
from there went on a Nile River cruise upstream visiting Edfu (Idfu), Kom Ombo, and ending
the cruise in Aswan. From Aswan we briefly visited the nearby Aswan High Dam, and from
Aswan we also took a flying one-day excursion to Abu Simbel and back to Aswan. Then we
flew to Cairo and visited sights in the Cairo area including the pyramids in nearby Giza. From
Cairo we flew back to New York.
in red. From New York we flew to Cairo, Egypt and on a connecting flight continued to Amman,
Jordan. After taking bus excursions in the Amman area we drove south to Petra. From Petra
we bused back to the Amman airport and flew to Cairo. From Cairo we flew south to Luxor and
from there went on a Nile River cruise upstream visiting Edfu (Idfu), Kom Ombo, and ending
the cruise in Aswan. From Aswan we briefly visited the nearby Aswan High Dam, and from
Aswan we also took a flying one-day excursion to Abu Simbel and back to Aswan. Then we
flew to Cairo and visited sights in the Cairo area including the pyramids in nearby Giza. From
Cairo we flew back to New York.
