At the northeastern tip of the Red Sea sits Aqaba, a beach city that bustles with the arrival of local and foreign tourists alike. As the road to Aqaba starts to dip down towards the coastline, the breathtaking view of the water reveals itself on the horizon; a radiant glimmer of sunbeams bounce off the surface of the Red Sea, while the clear blue sky offer itself as a canvas for nature to paint itself on.
اضافة اعلان
Within a few moments of arriving to
Aqaba, after a very early departure from Amman, I was overcome with a great sense of joy; the beach was a sight for sore eyes that long for the endless summer. As a quintessential beach bum, I questioned how I had never visited this part of the country before.
My child-like excitement seemed to amuse my friends. Their laughter at my awe slowly turned into what seemed to be a quiet self-reflection, as though they stumbled upon a newfound appreciation for something so familiar. I could see their faces as they looked out past the coastline, which they have visited so many times before, but this time through a fresh pair of eyes. I saw gratitude.
Completely entranced by the sight and smell of the water, I dropped my towel on the sun bed while making my way towards the beach. Undisturbed by the scorching hot sand underneath my feet I finally made it to the shoreline, my final destination, standing where the water meets the land.
A long cold dip into the sea; disappearing under the surface, I was met by stillness and an incredibly organized underwater ecosystem, where we were merely guests for a short visit. The snorkel I rented from a kiosk on the beach allowed me a peek into this alternate universe where an abundance of different species of fish gather around the coral to socialize. Back on shore, I spent a few hours baking under the sun at the
Tala Bay Beach Club, upping a much-needed dose of
vitamin D.
I spent the evening 20 minutes away in Aqaba’s town center. Exploring its busy streets by foot was a pleasant change from sitting in the car and a great way to get familiar with the local scene. The town was packed with people giving life to the streets and all of the town’s shops, restaurants, and coffee shops were open for business. Getting a decent seafood dinner isn’t hard in this town; we had our meal in a restaurant recommended by one of the shop owners we met earlier. I started to get the feeling that he must own the place, as he insists it is the best restaurant in town and all of its daily catches are fresh from the port.
Whatever the case may be, it was an effective endorsement. We filled our bellies with a soft tender white fish, muscles marinated in a garlic and lemon sauce, grilled shrimp served with half a lemon, and of course, all dishes were served with a side of French fries.
It was quiet in Tala Bay. Sitting on a bench alongside the line of boats retired for the evening, we met a few other friends, also in town for the weekend, for some small talk before going our separate ways. I headed back towards the beach, but before calling it a night, I took a minute to rest on the sunbed and soak in the sounds and smells of the sea one last time. You can feel the salt in your hair just by sitting near it. The sound of the water playing on the sand is the perfect playlist for stargazing.
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