After our train ride, we returned to our "camp" on the edge of the Wadi Rum protected area.
We are staying in one of these domes, which have a nice little patio outside and are really a cool way to experience Wadi Rum.
While Diana enjoyed relaxing on the patio, I headed off for a walk into the desert.
Mostly I followed 4x4 tracks at first . . .
. . . but also camel footprints!
I went around a bend and felt completely alone. It was beautiful, albeit very sandy, walking!
In total I was gone for about an hour, and was back in time to watch the sun set over the ridge to the east.
The rock behind our tent practically glowed in the light of the setting sun.
It was remarkable how cool it got after sunset and we moved inside to stay warm (the domes are heated and air conditioned). The camp serves dinner buffet style and we dined on a surprisingly generous spread. One thing the camp does not have, however, is alcohol, although they do serve 0% beer!
Perhaps not surprisingly, the stars were spectacular after dinner. Photographing stars with a smart phone is an exercise in futility, but I was amazed how crisply I was able to capture the moon and Jupiter.
Wadi Rum is beautiful at sunrise, too, and this morning I headed out for an hour walk before breakfast, this time in a bit of different direction than I had gone yesterday afternoon.
I was back at camp by 8:00 to meet up with Diana for breakfast. Here is a shot of the dining "tent."
We were in no rush to leave, so after breakfast Diana enjoyed our patio again and I went for another hour long walk, and again I was fascinated to see how the sun at a different angle brought out different colours in the sand and rock.
We checked out at 11:00, but Diana agreed to do a final Wadi Rum excursion with me, so we drove back to Wadi Rum village. We passed camels on the way again.
We parked on the northside of the village and walked south through the village. We passed the school . . .
. . . as well as some electricity wiring that I found amusing. Hopefully it is more safe (and legal) than it appears . . .
Our destination was Lawrence's spring, two or so kilometres south of the village and past what Google has labeled the "Wadi Rum tree" (there are very few trees in Wadi Rum!).
Lawrence's spring is a water source coming out of the rock ahead in the picture below.
A Bedouin family has a tent set up here with some camels, we shared some tea with them and rested in the shade.
I have ridden a dromedary before and did not particularly feel any desire to do so again. However, I also felt being in Wadi Rum that I wanted to at least get on a camel, so I paid one of the boys to let me get on and get some pictures.
My camel seemed to decide that if she was going to be made to stand up, she may as well get a drink while she was at it.
After my photo op, it was time to head back to the village and end our time in Wadi Rum. You can see the village up ahead in the picture below with Diana in the foreground.
From Wadi Rum we are headed to Aqaba, about an hour southwest of here.
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