View from hostel in Eilat of the Red Sea
It was super easy to cross the border and we literally walked from Israel to Jordan. We found a cab that would take us the 2 hour journey to and from Petra from the border and wait for us while we visited the site for a reasonable price.
When we got to Petra we were told by the cab driver that we should get out our money in advance and to not mention that we had just come from the border that morning as it is twice as expensive to go into Petra if you do not stay in Jordan for a night- they are trying to increase hotel tourism I guess.
We went up to the ticket office and tried to give them the money, but they apparently had decided that we were the people that they were going to give a hard time to that day. They drilled us about what hotel we stayed at in Aqaba (we lied to try and get a cheaper price), where our passports were to check the stamp, that they had a list of numbers people that had come from the border and we were going to get a huge fine if they found out we were lying. All of it was a bunch of false lies and it is unfortunate that we were the people they decided to single out and that we would have saved a lot of money had we known the rules and stayed in Aqaba- which was comparable or cheaper in price than Eilat.
Josh and I on camels in front of the Treasury in Petra
Other than this hiccup at the beginning we went into the park and it was quite scenic. We got back through the border to Israel without any problems.
I thought that since we were let back into Israel so easily that it wasn’t a big deal that we went over to Jordan.
WRONG.
When it came time for me to leave Israel I was already having a hard time leaving as it was Shabbat and that means that nothing runs except for cabs (no trains or buses) and the cab that I paid for refused to drop me off at the terminal that I wanted (no fly there). It was impossible to argue with my non-existent Hebrew skills and his limited English.
I got to the airport 2 hours early (more, but I had to switch terminals) and I was told I was late, which I thought was weird. It made sense after I spent literally the next hour in security. Apparently going to Jordan was not well received by the airport security. I was questioned for 10 minutes, by two separate people about why I was in Israel, who I knew, questions about my name and its origin, why I went to Jordan, who I knew and if it was planned, etc. They even asked me point blank if anyone had given me anything including envelopes in Jordan because it could be a bomb.
Then my clothing and belongings were ripped through for 45 minutes as things were literally triple checked, bomb sniffed and torn through. I sat and watched as most other people, except for the unlucky few, went through to the gate.
I was then asked to go through a special metal detector. By the way this was all before check-in at the ticket desk. After they deemed my belongings safe, I was escorted through to the check-in be security, through passport control, and through the last security.
It was crazy to be an American citizen and treated like someone on a watch list or something. I also thought it was weird that this was the security that I went through leaving the country and not entering. In the end I am glad that they are so focused on security, but it was weird to be on the other side of the strict requirements that we hear about in the news.
By the way, never embark to the Tel Aviv airport hungry. After all the security screening, 30 minute shuttle wait to the main terminal and waiting in EasyJet’s stupid line for 30 minutes, I didn’t have time to get any food!
I really liked Israel and I am lucky that I had someone to visit otherwise I may never have seen it. I think the Jews are really lucky to have a country that is so welcoming to them- I wish it was so easy for me to immigrate to another country!
View of Jerusalem with the Dome of the Rock
Other Updates:
I am in Calcutta India right now enjoying seeing my friend from CU, Arush and eating Indian food! I am going to New Delhi tomorrow and then to Agra and Jaipur to see the Maj Mahal and other touristy sites. I am excited to explore more of India, though I wish someone was able to go with me. I’ll take lots of pictures!
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