Not far from Mitzpe Ramon I stopped at a farm shop to buy something to drink. A young couple came over to chat, and I asked them about the best route to Eilat, as there were two options. They suggested the longer but more scenic and mountainous option along the Egyptian/Sinai border. That gave me a couple of hours on a perfect road, and amazing desert scenery, much of the time driving along some major fencing along the border. The Israelis (and Egyptians) are serious about protecting their assets!

A couple of hours later I popped out at Eilat and the Red Sea. Should I stay one night in Eilat, or head for the Jordanian border, only a few kilometers from Eilat? It was late afternoon, but I decided to give it a go with the border crossing to Jordan.

The exit procedure from Israel was quickly done, and only took about 15 minutes. A couple of hundred meters further on it was time for the entry into Jordan. I was asked to take all luggage off the bike and carry it into a room, where everything was x-rayed, and I was checked as well. Luggage back on the bike again, and over to the visa section. Fill in form, and onto the section dealing with the import of vehicles. First question from the nice lady: Can we have the trip-ticket for your motorcycle please. I hadn’t heard this term before, and simply told her I didn’t have one. She spoke to a few people, and searched for some forms, when I suddenly realized it could be the Carte de Passages for the bike she wanted. I quickly went to the bike and fetched the forms, and got a big smile from her, when she saw the forms. Yes, that is exactly what I need! I was sent somewhere else to buy insurance, pay for the import permit, and finally got the required stamp in my passport - You are now very welcome in Jordan, the official said.

All told, I paid around 50 JOD (Jordanian Dinar) or approximately € 80 for the various permits. All fees have to be paid cash in JOD which requires you to go to the money changers on site, and change your dollars or euros to JOD. Jordan has an unusual monetary system, as their currency, since 1995, is fixed to the US Dollar at a rate of JOD 0,709 to 1 $. 

Everyone was extremely helpful and friendly. At one point I was invited into the airconditioned offices of one of the customs people, while waiting for the paperwork to be finished. The whole procedure had taken just over two hours.

I have now spent 2 days in Jordan, about 200 meters from the Red Sea, south of Aqaba. Yesterday I purchased my ferry ticket from Aqaba in Jordan to Nuweiba in Egypt. The ship leaves Aqaba around 23.00 tonight and arrives about 3 hours later in Egypt, where customs procedures will start all over again, and I will be issued with an Egyptian numberplate, to be mounted on the bike. So a long, long day and night ahead!

I certainly have not done justice to Jordan, by spending only two days here. Have done a trip from Aqaba up towards Wadi Rum, but the big one of-course is Petra, which I just didn’t manage to fit in. It is Jordan’s biggest tourist attraction and considered one of the 7 wonders of the world. Last night I spoke to a French couple at the place I am staying. They spent 2 days exploring Petra, and insisted I didn’t leave Jordan, before I had done so as well. Sadly, I will have to disappoint them.