Vic's Pics

[Gnomey]

Good shots Vic!

Those last 2 paragraphs of that sign are something else. The first of them makes absolutely zero sense (to me at least).

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Wow! Some impressive firepower there! Great shots Vic. Thank you for sharing sir.

 

[wheelsup_cavu]

Cool photos Vic.

The small size of the tanks is always surprising.


Wheels

 

[Vic Balshaw]

To finish the Egypt tour just a small selection take in the museum in Alexandria where cameras were allowed.

Pic 1 2. A small selection of smaller ornaments from this mighty Egyptian dynasty.

Pic 3 4. Couldn't leave Egypt without a picture of a real mummy.

Pic 5. The life size statue of a one of their many kings in the traditional stance of 'I'm all powerful' with his son by his right leg.

 

[Gnomey]

Nice shots Vic!

 

[GrauGeist]

Awesome!

Egyptology has always fascinated me, thanks again for the great photos!

 

[Wayne Little]

Excellent Vic!

 

[wheelsup_cavu]

Excellent shots Vic.


Wheels

 

[Vic Balshaw]

From Egypt we flew to Amman in Jordan for the next leg of the holiday. Once again the weather while there was marvellous, sunny days with warm nights.

Pic 1 4. The huge amphitheatre in Amman. If you stand where my partner and our guide are in the 2nd picture, the acoustics are phenomenal. I stood on this spot a little later and could hear my own whisper returning to me from around the theatre.

Pic. 5. The capital of Jordan, Amman which is often referred to as the 'White City'

Pic 6. This was a typical Jordanian lunchtime snack. In reality, it seems they prefer to have a full meal at lunch time and only an evening snack. It was a huge meal and for a glutton like most enjoyable.....

Pic 7 8. Rather than staying in Amman on the first night we chose to bed down in Madaba where they have this amazing mosaic of the Holy Land about 540AD. It forms the floor of the Byzantine chapel of St. George which as you can see is also well decorated.

Pic 9. This is a very hazy view of the Jordan Valley as we wound our way down to the Dead Sea. The drive down was unbelievable and it was a long drop from the Jordan Heights. It was a bit like landing in an unpressurised aircraft with our ears suffering as we dropped down....

Pic 10. The Dead Sea with not a ripple and as can be seen by the rocks on the shore, very salty. Swimming or standing in it was almost imposable, it was best to just don the hat and the shades, grab a good book and float........

 

[Gnomey]

Nice stuff Vic!

 

[wheelsup_cavu]

Beautiful pictures Vic.


Wheels

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

WOW!!! Impressive stuff sir!! The amphitheater is fantastic.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Working our way down to Petra, we stopped off at the Citadel of Kerak. As the ruins of Crusader Castles go, this all though an interesting place is not as impressive as ones we saw later in the holiday. Unfortunately, I've still not mastered the instructions from Wheelsup on how to text under the picture, I'm having do it the old fashioned way.

Pic 1. The citadel at Kerak as we drove up from Dead Sea valley. With it being much further south of Amman, the vegetation is thinning on the rugged barren mountains.

Pic 2 to 5. Are some of the pictures taken within this vast citadel.

Pic. 6 7. With it being spring in Jordan, a couple of shots of the local wild flowers, irises with buttercups and crocus.

Pic 8 9. These two pictures were taken from the battlements of the citadel. As you can see, it's quite high up.

 

[T Bolt]

Beautiful pictures Vic! I feel like I was there.

 

[Gnomey]

Nice shots Vic!

 

[GrauGeist]

Great shots, all of 'em!

It must be incredible just to be in those places andimagine what they must have been like back in thier time!

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Seeing these pictures each time you post has me trying to imagine the sounds and smells. I know that sounds crazy but having lived in different areas of the United States I have noticed that each area has it's own unique set of sounds and smells. I'll go back to my little corner now.

 

[wheelsup_cavu]

Awesome pictures Vic.


Wheels

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Here we are then, possibly the highlight of the trip for both of us. This was my second visit to Petra, I visited the place in the late 70s while working a Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Aqaba was a couple of hours drive away and our regular watering hole from a dry Saudi (I say that with tongue in cheek). Petra was the result of a rare cultural weekend.

Pic 1. Just down from the town of Petra and just inside the entry gate stands this imposing collection of tombs.

Pic 2. This is the entry to the Siq (gorge) that leads into the Nabataean City Petra.

Pic 3 to 6. These shots show some of the gorge walk into Petra, the side walls are up to 80mtrs high and the walk in is well over 1 kilometre and in places the gorge is less that 4mtrs wide. The rock colours in 5 and 6 are no fluke, as in certain lights it reflects a very red hue.

Pic. 7. A fleeting glimpse of what is to come through the final few yards of the gorge.

Pic 8. The prize of Petra, the Treasury. The use of the word 'treasury' lead the Bedouin Arabs to believe that the monument house ancient treasure and it now bears the scars of the bullets fired at it in a vain attempt to shatter the rock to find the treasure.

Pic 9. This is looking back at the exit from the Siq. Just look at the crowds and it was like this most places we had been up to now.

Pic 10. The camels arrive for the joy of the tourists. As all our guides advise, 1 Jordanian Dinar to get on and 20 to get off. And 'NO' neither of us went for a ride.

Pic 11. This guy has been sitting in this spot for close on 25 years to my knowledge. Every photo I have ever seen of the Treasury and on my own visits, he has been in the same spot. I must say he looks good for his age.

Pic 12. On my next load of pics, I'm taking you up here to the High Alter.

 

[Gnomey]

Nice shots Vic!