Whoa Camel

While most people envision a trek through Wadi Rum atop a camel, fearlessly riding through the desert at high speeds, covering vast distances on the “ship of the desert”, in actuality it can be a lot more difficult than it appears. Wadi Rum… vast, open, and sandy was seemingly endless during our camel riding experience. An ordinary riding camel will normally saunter at about 5 km/hour; perfectly doable, right? But what about when it unexpectedly runs? Could you control it? Could you stay on? Would you know what to do? We were given the opportunity to find out and it wasn’t as joyful as you’d expect. 

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Bring on the Water Sports at Pink Shell Resort

This week has been all about Athena. Splashing in the pool, building sandcastles, strolling down the beach, meeting other babies, and playing toddler games consumed our days and filled my heart with joy. Today, our last day at Pink Shell Resort, though, I had to test out the water sports. Every day when I walked by the water bikes, the kayaks, the paddle boards, the jet skis, and the Hobie Cats they called my name. We used Darren’s lunch break today to give into temptation and give them a spin. 

The Sun was Setting

Every second of the day since arriving at Pink Shell Resort in Fort Myers, Florida has been about spending time with Athena, but in the evening, when she’s already in dreamland, Darren and I watch the sunset from the balcony. Each night, it has been completely different yet postcard perfect every time.

Which one is your favorite? 1? 2? 3? 4? or 5? Do you prefer the yellows, blues, or pinks?

Pink Shell Resort Water Babies

Success! Athena and I spent the entire day playing in the pool at Pink Shell Beach Resort. We did absolutely nothing else, and it was spectacular. The sun was beaming overhead casting a ray of light on our day. The breeze was strong enough to keep us cool and the water was refreshing without making us cold. It was the perfect combination to allow us to stay in the pool for hours. We finally called it a day when our fingers and toes were wrinkly prunes and even then Athena tried to get a few mores minutes out of me.

Kick Off Your Shoes & Play in the Sand

82 °F and a slight breeze… the perfect temperature for making sandcastles. Today, Athena and I had one goal – to kick off our shoes and get down to making sandcastles. (Well, that was my goal. Athena’s goal was to sneak in a bite of a seashell any time I wasn’t looking but it fit nicely with my sandcastle goal so she went along.) This week is all about soaking up Athena time and she loves the sand so that’s where we spent our day.

Back to the Beach

My ten days in Jordan were life-changing. I journeyed to five of my bucket list locations including Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, the Red Sea, and Jerash. I hiked, swam, walked, and climbed my way through the country. I rode 4x4s, buses, cars, planes, donkeys, and camels; and I am exhausted. After ten days of being a hyperactive tourist, I want some beach time. This week we are relaxing at Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina in Fort Myers, Florida. My plan is to spend as much time as humanly possible in the pool and on the beach. Forget constant exercise and adventure; I’m ready to relax. 

Under a Blanket of Stars in Wadi Rum

“Vast, echoing and God-like” – these are the words T.E. Lawrence used in describing Wadi Rum, the largest and most magnificent of Jordan’s desert landscapes. As we made our way through the maze of monolithic rockscape by 4×4 into the setting sun, I had finally felt like I was part of Jordan, enjoying the tranquility of the boundless empty spaces. At that point, I had no idea just how much I was going to learn about the land, the culture, and the people. Wadi Rum was a life-changing journey; here, amid the stupendous cliffs, canyons, and endless deserts, Jordanian life took on a different perspective.

Unsinkable Jordan

Over 400m below sea level, the Dead Sea was one of the most surprising, unique experiences on my Jordan journey. Coming from someone who has grown up in the ocean and spent as much of my waking childhood hours in the water as out of it, I was completely shocked by my Dead Sea submersion… or attempted submersion since technically I couldn’t completely submerge myself in the Dead Sea. 

Just Can’t Wait for My Jordan Journey

Jerash, Amman, desert castles, Karak, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Ma’In Hot Springs, Dana Biosphere Reserve, Wadi Rum, Aquaba, the Dead Sea, and the Red Sea were all part of my Jordan journey. It will take several days and maybe even weeks of posting to cover all of my amazing experiences and give you a proper tour of Jordan. If you just can’t wait for my Jordan journey, you can check out my Facebook and Instagram for more photos and a faster glimpse into life in Jordan.

See you later today for my experience at The Dead Sea, one of the most spectacular natural and spiritual landscapes in the world!

Beauty Beyond Words – The Kings’ Highway

The Kings’ Highway in Jordan is the world’s oldest continuously used communication route. It used to link ancient Bashan, Gilad, and Ammon in the north with Moab, Edom, Paran, and Midian in the south. This scenic route winds, drops, twists, and meanders through the heart of the Jordanian highlands, passing through the country’s most spectacular landscapes and some of its most important ancient sites. But words can’t do it it justice.