Crossing into Jordan was relatively easy compared to Syria. I know Jordan, I know the roads, having been there before 2 years previously. So I headed through Amman and out the other side to Madaba and a small hotel I'd stayed in before.

Just a short distance away, it poured down with rain ! So we arrived dripping wet and making a complete mess of their nice clean floor.

The next morning the wind was very strong and the decision to avoid the panoramic Kings highway for the possible protection of the Dead Sea highway was made ! But this really wasn't the case ! Our plan was to head to Petra from this highway but the route would've taken us through the mountains, not a good idea ! It was getting late, so we decided to head to Aqaba and spend 2 nights there, back tracking the following day for Ed to see the ruins at Petra.

This proved to be a wise decision as when we reached Aqaba the manager informed us of how lucky we had been to even get there - 70% of the roads in Jordan had been closed due to the storm. No wonder we had been asked along our route whether the roads were OK ahead.......

Monday 13th - my birthday !!! I finally woke up and saw that Ed had bought me a small emergency bottle of red wine and a box of choccies !!

So, to Petra ! Reception phoned the police to check the status of the roads - OPEN !!! But what I hadn't counted on when we left the desert highway to take the mountain road to Petra was how cold it would be.........and the snow !

Arriving cold and hungry we payed the extortionate entrance fee, only to feel very demoralised about the prospect of a cold trip back. But we managed it and on arrival I ordered us a coffee and a hot chocolate, just to warm up. Happy Birthday !!!!

That's it, Jordan !! Blink and you'd miss it !! Next stop Egypt...........if the Syrian border was bad, we couldn't wait for the chaos of this border!!