Saturday, May 18, 2024
Home Blog Page 323

From Assemblymember Marie Waldron

By
NC Daily Star Staff
-
0
Assemblywoman Marie Waldron

By Assemblymember Marie Waldron
Thanks to support from voters like you, I have been re-elected to serve the people of San Diego County’s 75th Assembly District. The boundary lines have changed and I have many new constituents along with many continuing constituents. The district now includes most of rural northern and eastern San Diego County, along with the cities of Poway and Santee, and the Scripps Ranch neighborhood of San Diego. I am honored by your support and look forward to serving you.
The 75th Assembly District is one of the most geographically diverse areas in the state. We have subtropical valleys filled with avocado and citrus groves, forested mountains and vast deserts. But like all Californians, we face rising crime, homelessness, concerns with our children’s education, and, of course, the high cost of living. We also have many unique challenges. These include the devastating impact of sky-high gas prices/taxes on rural commuters who often drive long distances to get to their jobs, the availability of reliable and affordable sources of water, and the ongoing placement of Sexually Violent Predators in rural communities without regard to neighborhood interests.
I believe that whenever possible, local control is best, while many in Sacramento believe in bureaucratic, one-size-fits-all solutions that often don’t work at the local level. All levels of government must be efficient, accountable and transparent – Sacramento must remember that government works for the people, not the other way around. The bigger government gets and the more distant the centers of power, the more difficult achieving these goals becomes. On this and many other issues, I often disagree with majority sentiment in Sacramento.
Even so, I will continue to work with all my Assembly colleagues as we seek commonsense solutions to the many vexing problems we now face. I will do my best to serve you and to be your voice in Sacramento.

Assemblymember Marie Waldron, R- Valley Center, represents the 75th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the cities of Poway, Santee, portions of the City of San Diego, and most of rural eastern and northern San Diego County.

Scam Alert: Imposters Posing as SDG&E Employees

By
NC Daily Star Staff
-
0

SAN DIEGO, November 14, 2022 – With the holidays just around the corner – a time of the year when scammers often strike, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is warning customers to be on the lookout for imposters who pretend to be SDG&E employees over the phone or in person, threatening service disconnections if payments are not made immediately. SDG&E is joining utilities across the nation to mark Utility Scam Awareness Day on Nov. 16 by sharing tips on how to spot scams.

Top targets of utility impersonators include limited-English speakers, the elderly and small businesses – particularly restaurants. Scammers are using increasingly advanced tactics and technologies to defraud their victims, including phone spoofing where they manipulate the caller ID to display SDG&E’s customer service number, so victims think that they are receiving a legitimate call.

Last month, Mark Cafferty, president and CEO of San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, experienced an elaborate ruse firsthand when an SDG&E impersonator made several calls to him indicating his gas and electric service was about to be shut off due to non-payment. The number that appeared on his caller ID was falsely presented as SDG&E’s customer service number. He immediately called SDG&E at (800) 411-7343 and then took to social media to alert the business community.

“Business both large and small must remain vigilant. Because of the sophistication of the fraud, an unsuspecting, well-intentioned business entity could easily fall into this trap and the losses are sometimes staggering,” he said.

Earlier this year, a local business incurred a significant financial loss when the impersonator kept telling the business that its electronic payment did not go through. The fraudster capitalized on the confusion, and the business made payments over and over three times before realizing the scam.

How the Ruse Works

The ruse most often includes a caller posing as a utility collections employee. Victims are told their account is delinquent and that a technician will arrive within the hour to shut off their electricity if they do not pay the past due amount immediately. Victims are asked to pay with non-traceable Bitcoin, payment apps such as Zelle, Green Dot debit cards, or other non-traditional forms of payment that SDG&E does not use.

Utility scams have grown in sophistication, with the victim being passed off to other role players to give the perception the imposter is calling from a large organization.  When a scammer’s number shows up on caller ID as being different from a utility’s customer service number, the scammer may claim the number on the caller ID does not match the utility’s phone number due to the company’s COVID-19 remote work policy.

Scammers capitalize on victims whose livelihood depends on a consistent source of electricity. For example, they have been known to call restaurateurs just prior to the lunch hour to add pressure. The owner, depending on the noontime crowd, may comply with fraudulent demands for payment.

 
Tips to avoid becoming a victim

SDG&E will never call to demand immediate payments be made over the phone with the threat of immediate service disconnection. SDG&E provides a variety of payment assistance programs to customers and sends multiple notices to customers before disconnecting service.
SDG&E will never ask customers to pay using digital payment apps or cryptocurrencies. The only bill payment options SDG&E uses are MyAccount, a Branch Office location, an Authorized Payment Location or BillMatrix, which accepts payment with a credit card via phone.
SDG&E customers who are uncertain about their account status should call SDG&E or look up their bill and payment history via sdge.com/MyAccount. 
Never use the call back number provided by an unknown caller to verify billing information.

Fraud complaints can be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. To learn more about common scams and signs, visit UNITED – Home (utilitiesunited.org).

SDG&E is an innovative San Diego-based energy company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The company is committed to creating a sustainable future by providing its electricity from renewable sources; modernizing natural gas pipelines; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles; supporting numerous non-profit partners; and, investing in innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region’s infrastructure for generations to come. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE). For more information, visit SDGEnews.com or connect with SDG&E on Twitter (@SDGE), Instagram (@SDGE) and Facebook.

Travels With TR – Our Mid-East Adventure – Part 6

By
NC Daily Star Staff
-
0
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom named in honor of Lawrence of Arabia

Wadi Rum Desert Safari & Red Sea Boat Ride

By TR Robertson
On Day 8 of our Mid-East Adventure, we left the Intercontinental Aqaba Hotel, after morning breakfast, headed for a trip into the one of the most famous desert regions in the world, the Wadi Rum, 37 miles east of Aqaba. The Wadi Rum is the largest desert region in the Kingdom of Jordan and is also known as the Valley of the Moon and the Valley of Sand. Jordan is said to be 70% desert. Wadi means valley, which for Wadi Rum refers to the hills, cliffs and canyons that comprise this desert region of Jordan. Wadi Rum is said to have been named for Iram of the Pillars, a lost city mentioned in the Quran.

This area of Jordan has been inhabited by many civilizations. The Nabataeans left petroglyphs on several of the canyon walls and a Nabataean temple, built around AD 1, was discovered in 1930, but was severely damaged in 1995. It has been reconstructed for tourists. Wadi Rum has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. The landscape of Wadi Rum has provided locations for numerous films over the years. Several scenes in the 1962 classic “Lawrence of Arabia”, starring Peter O’Toole, were filmed in the desert, including the depiction of the moment when T.E. Lawrence and members of native Arab tribes attacked an Ottoman train. Lawrence took part in the Arab Revolt of 1917-1918.

One of our stops on the way to the Wadi Rum Visitors Center included a visit to the actual steam train and some of the cars used in the filming of the train attack scene for the movie. A recent episode of the T.V. show “Amazing Race” was filmed using the train from the movie and also had scenes in the famous ancient city of Petra. This was a great picture stop with several in our group climbing on top of the steam engine and several of the train cars. Other movies using this amazing area for scenery include “The Martian,” “Red Planet,” “Aladdin,” “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” and many others. Lawrence authored a novel called the Pillars of Wisdom, where he described the beautiful scenery of Wadi Rum and the surrounding desert. In the 1980’s a mountain named “Mountain of the Plague” was renamed “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom” in honor of Lawrence’s novel.

A great deal of the activities provided by the Wadi Rum Visitor’s Center are run by members of the Zalabieh tribe. There are 4×4 adventures, camel rides, camping, Arabian horse rides, hiking and rock climbing offered along with eco-adventure stays in campsites and Bubble tents. As we boarded our pick-up truck excursion vehicles and headed out, we passed a number of the campsites situated in picturesque locations, including the interesting Bubble eco-tents.

Motoring through the red sand of Wadi Rum, our first stop was at a sand hill that rose to a rock top. It was two steps up, one step back climbing the hill, but worth the effort for a higher view of the surrounding area. Back in the truck bed we drove on to the next stop, a Bedouin tent for morning tea and a demonstration of how their strong coffee is made. Several in our group chose to take camels to our next stop, the petroglyphs of the Nabateans. As we finished the tea break, off we went again, driving by high cliff walls, unusual rock formations, sand, and more sand and finally to the final stop of the day, petroglyphs chiseled high on rock walls. A short walk away was an beautiful view from our location down into a valley below. Far in the distance a Bedouin tent and goat pen could be seen. Stopping for a group picture, we then boarded our truck for a return to the Visitors Center and the bus ride back to Aqaba. One of the Canadian members of our tour group was able to talk his driver into letting him drive the pick-up truck back, following one of the other trucks as we passed more eco-lodge tents. We headed back to Aqaba for lunch on our own, a bit of a break then off to board a glass bottom boat for a Red Sea excursion and snorkeling for those who wanted to snorkel.

Arriving back in Aqaba, Carolyn, friend Nancy and I got off the bus to go to one of the shops in a local market to purchase a small suitcase, primarily to take some of the items we had purchased back home. It seems like we always must purchase a large bag or small suitcase when we are traveling to ease the weight allowance required by the airlines. We walked a couple of blocks in the downtown area, asked a local shop owner if he knew of a spot selling these items and luckily, he knew of a shop just around the corner that had just what we needed. The price was reasonable, $35 U.S. We made the purchase and headed back, stopping by a McDonald’s to get French fries and two large cokes. This busy McDonalds used kiosks for ordering and with the assistance of one of the employees I made the purchase, including ordering a Big Mac to share and surprisingly the amount came to $5.26 U.S., cheaper than what it would have cost in the U.S. I also saw on the menu a mushroom burger offered at this McDonald’s. We had to walk about a mile back to the hotel and it was a hot walk back with temperatures in the mid-90’s. We were ready for a couple of hours in our air-conditioned hotel room before heading out again.

Around 3:30, we joined about half of the tour group who had signed up for the Red Sea snorkeling trip for the ½ hour drive to the Berenice Beach Club to catch the glass bottom boat for a two-hour tour of a Red Sea location just off the coast. Carolyn and I had snorkeled the Red Sea on a previous tour and saw an amazing array of fish surrounding a sunken ship. Today it was very windy, a bit choppy which would not make for good snorkeling. We headed out and drifted over a sunken ship, a sunken airplane and a sunken tank that had been placed in the water. The coral reef growth was not as colorful in this area and the number of fish we saw was limited. There was a strong current in the area, this played a role in what was going on under the water. Snorkeling was hard for everyone who tried, so after about two hours we headed back to the dock.

Arriving back at the hotel, everyone was on their own for dinner, so we decided to eat in the hotel at the Burj al Hamam Lebanese Restaurant. The prices were reasonable, and the menu had an excellent selection. I had a dish resembling what I would call Chicken Schnitzel and with two large Schnitzel pieces on my plate. All that was missing was the cheese spaetzle to make it more of a German dish. Another good ending to a fun filled day.

Part 7 will cover the incredible ancient city of Petra.

Vista Fire Department Awarded Grant for New Emergency Response Equipment

By
NC Daily Star Staff
-
0

Vista, CA – The Vista Fire Department has received a $28,850 grant to purchase new air bag extrication equipment. First responders use air bag equipment complements to safely rescue crash victims trapped inside a vehicle or under a heavy object. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“This grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety provides the Vista Fire Department the opportunity to purchase new air bag complements to replace the equipment that has been in service for some time,” Deputy Fire Chief Craig Usher said.

“Air bags are used for a variety of incidents and our new equipment will improve safety and extrication times.”

Delays in providing care to crash victims impacts the “golden hour” of survival, a core principle in the emergency medical services industry. Reducing the time it takes to get to the patient, treat what can be treated, and transport the patient to the hospital helps increase the chance for recovery.

Four Things to Know About Rental Car Insurance

By
NC Daily Star Staff
-
0

When traveling to a new destination, whether for business or pleasure, renting a car is one of life’s great conveniences. Closer to home, it also provides piece of mind if your own vehicle is temporarily out of commission due to service or as a result of a collision.

The most commonly asked question when renting a vehicle is do you need to purchase the rental company’s insurance coverage?

“When you rent a car, the rental agency has only a nominal amount of protection for liability claims,” said Kevin Quinn Vice President of Auto Claims at Mercury Insurance. “That means if you get into an accident, you may be responsible for significant charges.”

Here are a few things to consider before purchasing rental insurance:

1. Loss Damage Waivers
Many insurance companies do not provide a Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), so you may want to consider purchasing this additional coverage. These waivers are a “get-out-of-jail free” card absolving drivers of liability for theft of – or damage to – the vehicle. The extra charge is added to the daily rental price, and the standard fee typically ranges between 25 and 40 percent.

2. Stand-Alone Rental Car Coverage
Did you reserve and pay for your rental car with a credit card? If so, you may be able to reap some rewards. According to NerdWallet, all four major credit card companies – Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover – offer rental insurance benefits. These policies vary by company, so be sure to look into coverage details and limitations, because many of them provide secondary coverage. This means that if you need to make a claim, you will have to go through your insurance company first. The credit card would then cover costs your insurance company doesn’t…up to the limits stated in your credit card agreement. Some cards, like the Chase United Mileage Plus Explorer cards provide primary coverage, which means you don’t need to go through your insurance company.

3. Collision and Comprehensive Coverage
Typically, your personal auto insurance collision and comprehensive coverage extends to rental vehicles if you purchased that coverage as part of your personal auto insurance package. Collision insurance pays for damage to the rental car, regardless of fault. Comprehensive insurance protects against non-collision damage like theft, vandalism, fires, floods and hailstorms. If you’re involved in any of these scenarios, you’ll most likely have to pay the deductible – $250, $500 and $1,000 deductibles are common – before your insurance company will pay out any money. Speak with your insurance agent and check your policy for specifics.

4. Liability Coverage
Liability coverage from your auto insurance policy usually extends to rental vehicles. Supplemental liability insurance is available at the counter with a limit of $1 million, but drivers should look into the liability coverage provided by their personal auto insurance before purchasing additional insurance.

If you don’t want to rely on your own insurance policy and didn’t book the vehicle through a major credit card with rental car coverage benefits, purchasing insurance through the rental company is a good idea. Covered drivers can opt out of purchasing added coverage from the rental company. However, an important thing to consider is the claims process. Accidents may still impact your primary auto insurance premium and if you’re taking advantage of credit card rental insurance benefits, you’ll have to consider the company’s claims process as well. Contact your insurance agent and credit card lender to be confident in your decision when you leave the counter with your keys.

This article was originally published here by our partner Mercury Insurance.

To learn more about auto insurance contact Tague Insurance Agency.

Tague Insurance Agency is an independently owned and locally operated insurance agency in Vista, California. We help people across the state find affordable and reliable insurance products from a variety of trusted carriers. As an independent agency, we can help you find the perfect combination of coverage and price to fit your unique needs.

What Does Independent Mean?
“Independent” means we’re not tied to any one insurance carrier. In other words, we can research rates and coverage options from several top insurance companies to find the best policies for you. We do the shopping and comparing to save you time and money!

How to Get in Touch
We invite you to submit a free online quote request or call us at 760-509-4667 to review coverage options for auto, home, life, health, business, and more. We provide free, no hassle and no obligation insurance quotes to help you make an informed decision.

WaterSmart Living Landscapes Come in Many Styles

By
NC Daily Star Staff
-
0

Using water efficiently is a way of life and an important responsibility in a beautiful, Mediterranean climate like San Diego County. WaterSmart landscaping is all about rethinking the way limited water resources are applied and making smart choices to reduce outdoor water use.

Oceanside Students Recognized as Rising Stars by Local Community

By
NC Daily Star Staff
-
0

OCEANSIDE, Calif., Congratulations to November’s Rising Stars-
Vaeh Dunn from Surfside Educational Academy
Julia Metzger from Oceanside High School
Joseph Molano from El Camino High School
Noe Hernandez from Coastal Academy High School

These 12th grade students will be honored for rising above their circumstances Tuesday, Nov. 15th, from 8-9:30 a.m. when the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce hosts its Rising Star Student of the Month program for the 2022-23 school year. The event will be at the William A. Wagner Aquatic Center, 3306 Senior Center Drive, Oceanside.

The program, in its second year, aims to champion students who have overcome significant challenges in their lives, but have managed to keep, or get back on track with their education. The Chamber honors a high school senior from each of our area high schools at the monthly breakfast events.

Each school principal collaborates with his or her staff to nominate one 12th grader per month. The students must be college or vocational school-bound and they should emulate the program’s mission statement: “Convening the business and education community to honor Oceanside seniors for rising above adversity by demonstrating character, integrity, school and community engagement that make our city shine like a star.”

Honorees are then eligible to apply for higher education scholarships that will be awarded at the end of the school year. While scholarships may be awarded for a wide variety of fields of study, the Chamber and its Workforce Development Task Force will be asked to keep in mind the emerging industries in the region including technology, biotech/life sciences, and advanced manufacturing.

During the event, the school principals and the student’s parents and mentoring teachers will share what sets this student apart from other students and provide examples of their character, integrity, passion, focus and perseverance that has made them such a Rising Star on their campus and in our community. Oceanside’s Mayor Esther Sanchez is set to speak and she will provide commendations to each Rising Star along with elected officials Supervisor Jim Desmond, Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner Horvath, Senator Pat Bates and Congressman Mike Levin.

Scott Ashton, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce’s CEO, said they are hosting the Rising Star program as part of its larger workforce development initiative.

“The primary objectives are student recognition, scholarships for higher education and building of relationships between the business community and K-12 educational system. We are focused on engaging with our educational partners to ensure a strong workforce pipeline for Oceanside businesses,” Ashton said.

At the end of the school year, our goal is to give scholarships to several students from each of our participating high schools to assist in funding a post-secondary education of the student’s choice. Last year, due to the generosity of our scholarship sponsors Genentech and Tri-City Medical Center, the Oceanside Chamber foundation was able to provide 11 deserving Rising Star students a total of $26,000 in scholarships. For our second cohort of Rising Stars, we are proud to announce that Genentech and Tri-City Medical Center have once, again, matched their support of the scholarship program. They are our Presenting Sponsors and are joined by additional Scholarship Sponsors, P.E.O. International and UEI College. Thank you to these sponsors as well as our Venue Sponsor, City of Oceanside; Food Sponsors, North County Roastery and Frontwave Credit Union; Gold Sponsors MiraCosta College and California Coast Credit Union; Silver Sponsors Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, Wells Fargo, SDG&E and Grand Canyon University. Many thanks to One Kitchen Collaborative, Sizzler, and Handel’s Ice Cream.

Each Rising Star is also eligible for mentoring and leadership training to help them prepare for higher education and the workplace with services provided by Chamber members from the business, higher education, healthcare, public service, and other sectors. Rising Star events are open to all community members who want to show their support for our students. Tickets are $25 for Chamber members and $40 for prospective members. Register for the breakfasts, scholarships, and mentorships at www.risingstaroceanside.

About the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce

Founded in 1896, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to stimulate economic prosperity and foster a thriving and united community. The membership, advocacy and training community-based organization serves the Oceanside business community, as well as its active-duty service members serving aboard the adjacent Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The Chamber’s workforce development program collaborates with regional training and education programs to ensure job seekers are receiving employer-driven job training that produces enriching employment experiences. To list your open positions on our job board or collaborate with us to solve your employment gaps and barriers, contact Victoria@oceansidechamber.com.

Disney’s Beauty & the Beast, Jr.

By
Danny Avila
-
0

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. tells the story of Belle, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who feels out of place in her provincial French village. When her father is imprisoned in a mysterious castle, Belle’s attempt to rescue him leads to her capture by a Beast who was long ago trapped in his gruesome form by an enchantress. The only way for the Beast to become human once again is if he learns to love and be loved in return. There is a time limit, too: once a magical rose loses all of its petals, all hope will be lost and he will stay a Beast forever. The Beast’s enchanted household–populated by such beloved characters as Mrs. Potts, Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Chip–watch anxiously as Belle and the Beast grow to understand and befriend one another. Their feelings grow ever deeper as the clock ticks and petals continue to fall off the enchanted rose. But will they confess their love for one another before it is too late?

Ticket Information:
Ages 4 and under: Free (must sit on lap), Groups of ten or more (for same performance): $12, Students (5 to 17): $14, Adults: $17

Call For Artists Open Show

By
Danny Avila
-
0

The Escondido Art Association announces their December Show “Celebrate” and is open to members and non-members. The judge is the highly respected, Susan Avery Clark. Entry fees are: Members $20 1st entry, $5 ea. 2nd & 3rd, Non-members $30 1st entry, $5 ea. 2nd & 3rd, Students $10 1st entry, $5 ea. 2nd & 3rd. Take-in of art will be Saturday, December 3rd from 11:00am-5:00pm. “Celebrate” will run through December 30 and all art must be picked up between 11:00am & 5:00pm on December 30th.

Saturday, December 10th the Gallery will host an Artist Reception open to the public from 5:30pm-7:00pm. This will be the annual EAA Christmas party and refreshments will be served.

Travels With TR – Our Mid-East Adventure – Part 5

By
NC Daily Star Staff
-
0

Entering Jordan – Jerash – a Visit to a Jordanian Home – Arrival in Aqaba
By TR Robertson

As we awoke on Day 7 of our Mid-East trip, we would be leaving Israel and heading into Jordan. Packing the evening before, our group made sure luggage was on the bus as we boarded after a morning breakfast. On the road for about an hour we approached the border crossing where we would have to be stamped out of Israel and stamped into Jordan.

We had to take our luggage out of the bus, as we would be getting on a new tour bus in Jordan with our new guide from Jordan. There was a small crowd of people also trying to enter Jordan, but our guide Farah assisted in getting us the proper paperwork to go through the gate. A soldier entered the bus to check our passports. Entering the building to get the entry pass to enter Jordan several in the group had an issue getting the VAT tax (Value Added Tax) returned from items purchased in Israel. There was a delay in getting someone from Israel to issue the money return from items purchased in Israel and an issue with the procedure used by Israel for returning the tax. After waiting to get someone from Israel to assist, all in the group made it through the entry process, rVat tax in hand. We retrieved our luggage and took everything to the new bus to officially meet our new guide, Ridwan Al Smadi. Ridwan informed us the best way to remember his name was to call him “Red Wine”, which many would do for our stay in Jordan.

Finally on the road again, our bus was headed to the Jordanian capital of Amman, the largest city in Jordan. Ridwan told us a little about himself, mainly he had been a tour guide for over 6 years and loved what he was doing. We also learned a little about what we would be seeing in the city of Jerash, our first stop before we arrived in Amman. Human presence in this area dates back to the Neolithic Period (7,000-5,000 BC). Jerash and the ruins in the area are referred to as the Pompeii of the Middle East and the City of 1,000 Columns. Romans conquered this area in 63 BC and began to build a massive Greco-Roman city. The ruins today are considered the best preserved Roman ruins outside of Italy.

Before arriving at Jerash we stopped for lunch at the popular restaurant called Artemis. Artemis was the Greek god of fertility and the hunt. Many of our group got the chicken kabobs for lunch. I wanted to try their crispy Nan bread with hummus and wanted a Jordanian beer called Petra, enough to fill me until dinner. The lunch stop was a great introduction to Jordan. We were back on the bus after about an hour and headed for the Greco-Roman ruins of Jerash.

After entering the entrance complex for the ruins, we headed to the impressive Hadrian’s Arch at the East Gate entrance, built in AD 171, which led to a long procession of buildings that ended at a huge central courtyard. The city was partially destroyed in AD 749 by a massive earthquake. A portion of the courtyard is beautifully framed by large columns that circle the courtyard. Many followed Ridwan as he talked about the complex using “Whispers”, listening devices we had been using at different spots during our trip. We were told that only 20% of the large city complex has been excavated. We saw a portion of the Hippodrome complex which at one time was over 853 feet in length. Several in our group went to the amphitheater where we were treated to an unusual musical event. Three Jordanian gentlemen, playing snare drums and bagpipes, entertained those in the amphitheater as they performed different songs as they marched around the area, including Happy Birthday to one of the ladies in our group. Ridwan continued on ahead with some of the group, I chose to go back down to the main plaza and walk down the road of columns toward the West Gate entrance, before returning to the entrance area where some of our group had wandered to enjoy sodas and gelato on another warm day in the Mid-East. When all of the group wandered back to this meeting point, it was back on the bus headed to our hotel in Amman for a one night stay before moving on to the coastal city of Aqaba.

Our hotel in Amman was the beautiful five-star Amman Rotana, a hotel many of us wished we could have stayed at an additional night. Our rooms were huge with wonderful views of the city through floor to ceiling windows. After some time to relax and get ready dinner we met our tour guide in the lobby to join other members of our group to drive to a Jordanian home where we would be hosted for a home cooked meal. Arriving and going up several flights of stairs we arrived at a very nice apartment owned by an older couple who also lived with their sons and their families in the apartment complex. Our hosts welcomed us and we met various family members and shared a lively discussion where Ridwan explained a little about Islam and the customs and beliefs surrounding this religion. Dinner for this evening was the Maqluba upside-down chicken dish with lots of side dishes, very tasty. A great selection of desserts were available for after dinner treats. We had to leave before 10 pm as we were told power to the building shut down at 10 pm. We were back on the bus for an evening drive back to the Amman Rotana.

The next morning, after luggage down to the lobby and breakfast in an amazing restaurant of the hotel, we were on the bus for several hours of driving through the Jordanian desert to Aqaba, located on the Red Sea. Before leaving Amman we toured the Citadel of Amman, built on Jebel Al Qala’a hill, with a 360 degree view of the Old City. We toured the ruins of this fortress, a place that had been conquered many times in the past by numerous civilizations. The two major sites to see included the incomplete Roman Temple of Hercules and the Ummayad Palace. Many of the group visited the small museum at the top of the hill, before returning to the buses. Leaving this area, we made a quick stop at the large 2nd century Roman amphitheater that once sat over 6,000 people.

Departing Amman, after several hours on the Kings Highway we stopped for a quick lunch at the New Jerusalem Rest House, which also had a very elaborate gift shop with beautifully designed rugs, furniture, jewelry, gift items and some very unusual items like painted ostrich eggs. For lunch, they offered a hamburger which was actually more like beef sausage on a roll or a kebab sandwich, which seemed to be the same but thicker. We were about an hour away from Aqaba, so after lunch we boarded our tour bus to get to the city just after mid-day. Ridwan told us that 125 years ago the Ottoman empire built a railroad system to take pilgrims to Mecca. This could be seen in the distance from the road. He also said that every 12-15 miles a small town would be established with water towers to supply water for the steam trains. The trains also hauled phosphate that was mined in the hills throughout the region.

As we arrived at the hills above Aqaba (translated as “obstacle”), we could get a great overview of this coastal town and could see the Red Sea in the distance. It was very hazy and once we got out of the bus at the hotel there was a very warm breeze blowing. In Aqaba we were staying at the Intercontinental Aqaba Hotel, another beautiful hotel we stayed in on this trip. For the rest of the day we were able to relax and have no additional plans for the evening.

The next two days would be busy with a trip to the Wadi Rum desert, a boat ride on the Red Sea, and a tour of the ancient rock city of Petra. These adventures will be covered in Part 6 of our Mid-East Adventures.

1...322323324...1,344Page 323 of 1,344
- Advertisement -

Latest News