In addition to the red sand, Wadi Rum has many towering cliffs, loved by rock climbers from around the world. T.E. Lawrence, the famous British soldier and diplomat (also known as Lawrence of Arabia) also loved Wadi Rum and lived there for at time in 1917. He recounted his many adventures in Jordan and southwest Asia in his book, the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, which was named after the large rock formation with seven pillars that towers over the desert at Wadi Rum. The book is still recommmended reading for British soldiers posted to the Middle East and Southwest Asia.
Our guide Hani showed us some ancient messages carved into the Wadi Rum cliffs. These messages and accompanying pictures were left by ancient travelers passing through Wadi Rum on caravans between Europe and the spice countries.
Discovering more about the vast red desert valley of Wadi Rum was a perfect end to our two days in Aqaba, and our visit was marked with a magnificent sunset. I would have loved to stay and see some of the other marvelous sites that Jordan has to offer such as the Dead Sea, the capital of Amman, and the Roman ruins at Jerash. However, the Silver Whisper was sailing for Safaga, our transfer point to the exciting city of Luxor.
