Aqaba
Amazing Aqaba
Aqaba is inarguably one of the hottest spots to visit in Jordan, and for a reason that should be obvious the moment you see it on a map. This city is not just the biggest of the cities on the Gulf but also the one city the country of Jordan has that is in a coastal position. This makes it the place to go to when Jordanians and visitors to the country want a taste of the beaches, the centre of water sports and activities in the area.
It is hardly as though Aqaba is a one-dimensional spot, though. Even though it is in fact a hub for water-based tourism and activity in the area, it is also good for many other things. Aqaba has an interesting history, having been inhabited since 4,000BC. Again, this is little surprise once you see its location. It sits at a crucial trading site between Asia and Africa, making it a critical stop for congress between the two regions. As such, it is culturally rich and invested with a tradition of openness, perhaps since it has long been used as a pass through which different cultures mingle and mix. It has been controlled by the Kingdom of Jerusalem, by Saladin and by the protectorate of the British. It has been inhabited by Edomites, Arab Nabateans, Greeks, Romans and now Jordanians. Throughout that time it has held and built a reputation as a welcoming city of tourist delights, of beachside amusements and modern luxuries.
This tells you that Aqaba has a history rooted in strong cultural exchange and interaction. It is a wonderful city for any tourist, as it welcome all without rancor. The city that has spent literal millennia opening its gates to itinerants from all around the region is certainly not about to stop doing that now.