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Egypt & Jordan
Jordan & Egypt Express Tour
Highly recommend Encounters Travel. Entire tour was conducted without a hiccup, tour guides were amazing - friendly, highly knowledgeable, courteous and nothing was too much trouble to ensure our trip was of a high standard.
Chook31, 23 Oct 2018
Jordan & Egypt Express OVERVIEW
Amman to Cairo
From $1720.00
Country(ies): Egypt , Jordan
Accommodation: 3 to 4-star hotels, Bedouin camp, Nubian guesthouse & felucca sailboat
Transport: A/C car/minibus/coach, Bedouin jeep & felucca sailboat
Highlights: Hidden Petra, Swim in The Dead Sea, Wadi Rum desert safari, the Pyramids & Sphinx, Huge Karnak Temple complex, Island Philae Temple, The Valley of the Kings, Felucca cruise on the Nile, Abydos & Dendara temples
This comprehensive Jordan and Egypt tour is packed with all the main sights in each country and is designed to fit a low budget without compromising what you see and do.
Starting in Amman, Jordan, we first visit the well preserved Roman remains at Jerash before following the scenic Kings Highway through the centre of Jordan, stopping to see the Roman Mosaics at Madaba, enjoy the views from Mount Nebo, marvel at the grandeur and size of Wadi Mujib and explore the crumbling remains of the huge crusader castle at Kerak. This all brings us to Jordan's most popular attraction, the hidden 'Rose Red' city of Petra. We set aside a full day here with a guided tour and free time to explore further. Next we take a 4x4 jeep safari through the spectacular desert scenery with its towering rocky 'jebels' at Wadi Rum, famous for its links with Lawrence of Arabia. We'll spend a night in a comfortable Bedouin camp under the stars here. Then return to Amman with a stop to enjoy a dip/float in the salty waters of the Dead Sea - a must-do experience. We'll then take a flight to Cairo (not included - see Day 6 of the itinerary).
Arriving into Cairo we start with a visit to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx before travelling south into Upper Egypt and the city of Aswan which sits on one of the most attractive stretches of the Nile. Here we explore the beautiful island temple of Philae and mighty Aswan Dam, with an optional extra early morning tour to the impressive temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Back in Aswan we hop on board a traditional Nile felucca sailboat and wend our way down the River Nile, with support en-route from our Nubian crew and accompanying facilities boat with on board toilet, showers and massage deck. Arriving into Luxor we take time to visit some of the many temples in this amazing open air museum, and of course we take time to explore the tombs of the Valley of the Kings. We finally head back to Cairo with stops on the way at the less visited temples at Abydos and Dendara. If you'd like to add some time by the Red Sea to this trip, it's easy to add on a few extra days at the beach resort of Hurghada.
Accommodation is in comfortable mid-range hotels, Bedouin tents with proper beds in Wadi Rum, a friendly local Nubian guesthouse in Aswan, plus one night on board the felucca sailboat on the Nile.
Private tour option
If our scheduled departure dates don't work for you, or you would prefer not to travel with a group, then we can also run this tour privately for you. Please contact us for more information and prices.
Day 1 Welcome to Amman. Airport to hotel transfers included
Once you arrive at the airport, one of our staff members will be there to meet you and take you to your hotel in Amman. After helping you check in and pointing you to any local shops, cafes or restaurants, you're free to explore Amman independently before our sightseeing starts tomorrow.
Amman hotel
Extra day in Amman - pre-tour
Single room supplement (JOSHJE)
As-Salt and Bethany tour
Day 2 Mosaics, Castles & Wadis en-route to Petra
We say goodbye to Amman today as we drive to Petra via the King's Highway. The drive to Petra is a scenic one, as we cross deep Wadis, pass through olive groves and remote rural villages.
Before we reach Petra, we'll stop at Madaba, where we'll visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George - famous for its 6th Century Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land and other biblical sites. We'll also make our way up Mt Nebo, which provides spectacular views of the Holy Land, which is known as the burial place of the prophet Moses.
After exploring Madaba, we'll once again cross a few deep Wadis, including the impressive Wadi al-Mujib, where the road winds through olive groves before rising up the side of a spectacular 1-kilometre deep canyon.
We'll also stop at Kerak Castle, which is one in a chain of Crusader fortresses built across Jordan in the 12th Century on the ancient Egypt-Syrian caravan route. Built in 1132AD by the Crusader King, Baldwin 1 of Jerusalem, the castle fell to Saladin in 1188AD. It is still a hugely impressive building with commanding views over the surrounding hills & plains.
Once we arrive in Petra, we'll help you check into your hotel and the evening is free for you to relax and explore. An option is available to get a first taste of Petra itself with the atmospheric Petra by Candlelight tour through the Siq to the Treasury.
Petra hotel
Day 3 Exploring Petra, camping in Wadi Rum
Today is all about exploring the Nabatean site of Petra. It was once the ancient capital of the Nabataean commercial empire until the Romans finally took over in 106AD. For a long period of time, Petra was forgotten - except by the local Bedouins - before it was rediscovered in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Petra can be found at the edge of the Wadi Aruba desert, where canyon walls and towering hills make it virtually impossible to reach, except via a narrow cleft in the rock, known as the Siq. There are very few free-standing buildings in Petra, as the Nabateans chose to carve their dwellings into the multi coloured sandstone cliffs. Petra has become one of Jordan's main tourist attractions and the Jordanian Government is well aware of this. The tourism infrastructure in the adjoining village of Wadi Musa is booming, though, thankfully, once you enter through the Siq, the site is protected, there aren't that many touts or souvenir sellers, and all the building feels miles away.
We have most of the day available today to explore this ancient city (2-3 hour guided tour, then free time to explore independently). We start by making our way through the Siq, which rises to 200 metres above us and narrows to just 2 metres wide in certain sections. Keep an eye out for the ancient Nabatean water channel which is still visible on one wall and there are remnants of the terracotta pipes that brought water into the city as well. We'll turn a corner and suddenly - one of the most familiar sights of Petra will be in front of you - The Khazneh (Treasury) comes into view. Our guide will explain how this, and the other buildings here, are mainly elaborate facades carved into the rock from the top down, and also discuss the spiritual significance of the building style.
From the Treasury, the valley opens out, and you'll see tombs carved into the rock on both sides. You'll get a glimpse of the ruined Roman amphitheatre and colonnaded streets and during your free time, you can walk up a steep and narrow winding gorge to the towering 'Monastery' - which is 50 metres high and 45 metres wide, giving you breath-taking views of the Wadi Aruba desert and the Jordan Valley. Another climb takes you to the High Place of Sacrifice, and Lion Fountain. All in all, this is a full and tiring exercise, but hugely rewarding day touring one of the world's most famous ancient sites.
Walking distances today are an absolute minimum of 3km through the Siq to the Treasury and back and to see a few tombs, 8km to take the trail on as far as the main basin, plus an additional few km to the Monastery and back (over 800 steps up and down). For those with less mobility or who are worried about the distance, horse carriages are available for around 20JD (USD 28) to take you on the 1.2km journey through the Siq to the Treasury and back again at an agreed time. They will also take you further in through the site for an extra fee. We do not recommend riding the horses that are available. Donkeys are available for the steps up to the Monastery - if you want to use them, we'd reommend doing this on the way up, not on the way down.
Later in the afternoon, we leave Petra and drive into the spectacular desert scenery of Wadi Rum where friendly Bedouin hosts are ready to greet us at a comfortable camp beneath the towering rocks and cliffs. We spend the evening and night relaxing at the camp, watching the stars and enjoying a delicious traditional Jordanian meal.
Wadi Rum Bedouin camp
Day 4 A Jeep safari in Wadi Rum & a swim in the Dead Sea
After breakfast, we explore the spectacular desert and mountains of Wadi Rum via a Jeep safari. The desert here, with its towering rust coloured rocky 'jebels' awed TE Lawrence during his visits during the Arab Revolt of 1917-18 and was later made famous in the film Lawrence of Arabia.
We'll leave Wadi Rum and drive north up the banks of the Dead Sea, one of the world's most amazing places. As well as being the lowest point on earth at over 400 metres below sea level, the Dead Sea region is one of the most spiritual landscapes in the world as well as being full of dramatic natural beauty.
The Dead Sea itself receives several incoming rivers, including the River Jordan. Once the waters reach the Dead Sea they are land-locked and have nowhere to go, so they evaporate, leaving behind a rich cocktail of salts and minerals that supply industry, agriculture and medicine with some of its finest products.
The Dead Sea is flanked by mountains to the east and the rolling hills of Jerusalem to the west, giving it an almost otherworldly beauty. Although sparsely populated and serenely quiet now, the area is believed to have been home to five Biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Adman, Zebouin and Zoar (Bela). We stop along the way to enjoy a 'swim', though the intensely salty waters lead to a very strange swimming experience. In fact, normal swimming is not possible, and it is easier (and more photogenic!) just to float, sitting or lying in the water. Be careful not to get any water in your eyes, as it will sting - you'll also discover various tiny cuts you never thought you had!
We finish the day back at our hotel in Amman.
Day 5 Exploring Amman and Jerash
We start the day by heading north out of Amman to nearby Jerash, one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside Italy. Fondly referred to as the 'Jewel of the North', Jerash boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years.
Jerash was hidden for centuries in sand, evacuations and restorations over the past 70 years have revealed a fine example of the grand, formal provincial Roman urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East.
After returning from Jerash we spend the afternoon exploring Amman, commonly known as the 'white city' due to its sheer number of white limestone buildings. Amman's rich history dates back many millennia, with numerous excavations and renovations uncovering remains from the Neolithic period as well as the Hellenistic and late Roman to Arab Islamic Ages.
Our tour will include the Citadel - the former home of the ancient Temple of Hercules, The Umayyad Palace and the Byzantine Church. We'll also visit the 6000-seat Roman Theatre - which dates to the Roman period, when the city was known as Philadelphia.
Day 6 Amman to Cairo. Hotel transfer included
We leave Jordan today and transfer you to Amman airport for your flight to Cairo. Once you arrive, we'll meet you at the airport, assist you with obtaining your visa and luggage, and then transfer you to your hotel for the start of your trip. We'll help you check in before giving you some free time to relax or explore Cairo independently. An optional dinner cruise on the Nile is also available tonight.
Note: the Amman-Cairo flight is left out of the set tour price as it is often more cost effective for you to include this flight as part of your main international flight ticket. We are happy to book all your international flights, just this Amman-Cairo flight, or none of them at all, whichever works best for you. Direct flights are available with both Egypt Air and Royal Jordanian Airlines. You can fly at any time during the day - all transfers in Amman and Cairo are included.
Request a quote for Amman to Cairo flight
Our next visit is the majestic Sphinx, which nestles nearby, and was uncovered completely only in the 1920s.
In the afternoon we then drive south through towns and villages along the banks of the River Nile to Luxor where we check into our hotel.
This is free to relax in your hotel, or perhaps take an optional tour to Luxor Museum, which has a beautifully displayed collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts and includes some very important and impressive specimens. There are also some items from the period after the end of Pharaonic times in Egypt. We then continue our drive south following the Nile to Aswan where we spend the night in a Nubian village staying in a local guesthouse. The ancient region of Nubia comprised an area around the Nile in parts of present day southern Egypt and northern Sudan.
Many descendants of the Nubian people still live around Aswan and during our stay we'll see their colourful houses and can enjoy a typical meal this evening.
Later we board a traditional Nile felucca and sail a little way out of Aswan before mooring up for the night. Our separate facilities boat will join with us from time to time during the day and moor up with us at night. This boat helps us protect the environment of the banks of the Nile, having a proper toilet and showers on board as well as a hygienic kitchen. You sleep on the deck of the boat, with mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets provided. This is a fun but basic experience, and you can upgrade the night sleeping on the felucca to an additional night in a hotel in Aswan if you prefer.
Day 10 Felucca sailing, to Luxor. Optional Luxor temple at night
Nile cruise upgrade
Day 11 Luxor, West Bank tour. Optional Karnak temple tour
Day 12 Dendara and Abydos, to Cairo
We leave Luxor this morning and drive back to Cairo, stopping at the temples of Dendara and Abydos along the way. These temples are much less visited by tourists than the sites in Luxor, but are hugely impressive. Dedicated to the Goddess Hathor, Dendara in particular becomes many people's favourite site, and is incredibly well preserved. Nearby Abydos is another fascinating site, and was the cult center of the god of the dead, Osiris.
The necropolis here was a pilgrimage and burial site and at least ten temples were originally built here. We arrive back into Cairo this evening and check into our hotel in the centre of the city for a final evening together.
Day 13 Cairo, Optional City & Museum tour. Departure airport transfer
Your time is free today for some last minute sightseeing or shopping until we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. We recommend an afternoon or evening flight so that you can take a tour to visit the incredible Egyptian Museum and see more of the city this morning. Extra nights in Cairo are also available if you would like to extend your stay.
Cairo city tour
1 night in comfortable Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum
1 night on felucca sailboat with accompanying support boat with toilet & shower
All transport and transfers in AC vehicles (plus Bedouin jeeps in Wadi Rum)
4x4 jeep safari in Wadi Rum
Services of a specialist tour guides for sightseeing tours
Amman-Cairo flight (available on request or bookable with your international flight ticket)
Visa fees (Free Jordan visa included in the Jordan Pass; Egypt US$25)
Entrance fees in Jordan (included in the Jordan Pass, to be purchased in advance, JD70)
Entrance fees in Egypt (allow approx. US$65)
Tipping kitty in Egypt (allow US$45)
Guide Tips in Jordan and Egypt
Tips in Jordan
Travel insurance (compulsory, available from Encounters Travel)
Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
From the start of 2022, the name of this tour has changed from 'Jordan & Egypt on a Shoestring' to 'Jordan & Egypt Express'. This reflects the reduction in the maximum group size to 18, and the improvement of some of the accommodation, making this now one of our small-group tours.
Egypt itinerary alternatives:
In the rare event that there are only 2 or 3 people in the group, the itinerary in Egypt will be adjusted slightly. Instead of driving between Cairo and Aswan/Luxor, these journeys will be done by sleeper train instead. The Abydos & Dendara visit will be replaced by including the normally optional tour to Karnak Temple.
Many of Egypt and Jordan's hotels arrange a very special gala dinner with entertainment in the evening on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Payment for these is often optional on Christmas Eve (24 Dec) but normally compulsory on New Year's Eve (31 Dec), whether you attend or not. Prices can range from around US$50 to over US$180 per person in 5-star hotels. Final decisions on prices and whether dinners are compulsory are made relatively close to the time. We aim to always select hotels that make their Gala Dinners optional, though this is not always possible, especially for New Year's Eve. Gala dinner prices are therefore not included in our prices above, but will be added to your booking if they become required. Please budget accordingly. More information is available on request.
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Rum Art Hotel
The Rum Art Hotel is rare in Amman in that it is a decent mid-range hotel located within easy walking distance of lots of shops, cafes and restaurants. This is ideal if you have any free time before or after the main tour, and also in the evenings.
The Rum Art Hotel (formerly Al Waleed before new management) is rare in Amman in that it is a decent mid-range hotel within easy walking distance of lots of shops, cafes and restaurants. The hotel is located in the Sweifieh district, just a few setps away from Wakalat Street which is very popular with Jordanians for shopping and eating. The location is ideal if you have any free time before or after the main tour, and also for going out to eat in the evenings. Unfortunately nearly all other 3 and 4-star hotels are situated in more obscure areas and on main roads with nothing much around them, meaning you either need to eat in the hotel or take taxis if you want to explore during your free time.
Rooms are comfortable and all en-suite and air-conditioned. There is a decent Italian restaurant on the ground floor.
La Maison is a comfortable, mid-range hotel in Petra with an excellent location less than ten minutes walk from the Visitor Centre and entrance into Petra.
La Maison is a comfortable, mid-range hotel in Petra with an excellent location less than ten minutes walk from the Visitor Centre and entrance into Petra. The 76 en-suite rooms have been recently rennovated and all ll have air conditioning, free internet and TVs.
The hotel has a lobby lounge and bar, a restaurant and an Arabic styled roof terrace where you can enjoy traditional Jordanian snacks, drinks and shisha pipes.
In Wadi Rum we use a Bedouin camp located on the desert sands and against the rocks and cliffs. You sleep in traditional goat hair tents with proper beds, mattresses and all bedding provided.
In Wadi Rum we use a Bedouin camp located on the desert sands and against the rocks and cliffs. This may be Captains Desert Camp or other similar camps subject to availability at the time. You sleep in traditional goat hair tents with proper beds, mattresses and all bedding provided. Bathrooms and toilets are shared, though en-suite tents are available on request for a small upgrade fee. You can also sleep outside under the stars if you prefer (bring a sleeping bag).
This flight is a required part of the tour. It is left out of the set tour price as it is often more cost effective for you to include this flight as part of your main international flight ticket.
This flight is a required part of the tour. It is left out of the set tour price as it is often more cost effective for you to include this flight as part of your main international flight ticket. We are happy to book all your flights, just the Amman-Cairo flight, or none of them at all, whichever works best for you. UK residents will need to book their own flights. Direct flights are available with both Egypt Air and Royal Jordanian Airlines. You can fly at anytime during the day - all transfers in Amman and Cairo are included. If you add this option to your booking, we will get back to you with a quotation for this flight.
This option books a single room in all the accommodation throughout the tour. Room shares may be available but the supplement is payable if a room share cannot be arranged.
This option books a single room in all the accommodation throughout the tour. If you are a single traveller and would be happy to share a room, let us know and we will see if we can pair you up with another single traveller of the same sex. If a room share is not available when you book then we will add the single room supplement to your booking and it will be payable with your balance payment unless we have arranged a room share for you by then. If a room share is arranged after you have paid the supplement then we will refund it to you. Room shares are arranged in order of booking.
Superior hotel upgrade
This option upgrades all your Jordan hotels on the tour from the local 3-star to 5-star level. At the Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum you stay in en-suite tents instead of those with shared facilities. Single room supplements apply
This option upgrades all your hotels on the tour from the local Jordan 3-star level to 5-star. At the Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum you stay in en-suite tents instead of those with shared facilities.
The specific hotels used may vary on different dates but include the Landmark and Le Grand in Amman, and the Old Village or Hyatt Zaman Resort in Petra. The Petra hotels can be considered a good 4-star level despite their official 5-star rating.
Prices are based on 2 people sharing a twin/double room. Single room supplements apply - please check the website reservation form or contact us for prices to match your preferred dates.
This option runs on Day 1 so requires an extra night adding to the tour. We start by exploring the hilltop town of As-Salt before heading down to the Baptism Site at Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan where John baptised Jesus Christ.
Our first visit today is to the hilltop town of As-Salt, around 40 minutes drive from Amman. As-Salt was an important trading link between the Jordan Valley and Eastern Desert, and once the capital of Amman. The town developed its old Islamic architecture using yellow limestone, which was the finest at the time and many impressive buildings can still be seen today, as well as tiny narrow streets packed with shops and stalls. Today the town provides an example of religious and cultural friendship between the local Muslim and Christian population and we take a walking tour on its self-designed 'Harmony Trail' to learn more about the town and local life in Jordan. We'll also take lunch with a local family for a first taste of Jordan's delicious cuisine (if groups are over 10 people or no families have availability that day we will eat in a local restaurant instead).
After lunch we descend out of the hills to the Baptism Site at Bethany. This is a relatively recently excavated site believed to be the biblical 'Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan' where John baptised Jesus Christ. Several churches, caves and pools dating from Roman and Byzantine periods have been discovered here. Both Pope John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI have visited. An electric minibus takes you from the visitor centre to the three sites: Tell Mar Elias, the Baptism Pools and John the Baptist's Church. After a busy day, we'll return to our hotel in Amman where we'll spend the night.
This tour runs on Day 1 of the tour, so an extra night needs to be added in the hotel in Amman before the tour starts. A supplement will apply if there is only one person on the tour.
Accommodation is based on twin or double en-suite rooms with air conditioning. All couples will be given a private double room. Single travellers may choose to pay a single room supplement to guarantee themselves a single room throughout the tour. Alternatively, they may choose to share a room with one or two other travellers of the same sex. If you are happy to share, then you will only need to pay the single room supplement if we are unable to pair you up.
Please check the Accommodation tab on the tour page for details of the normal hotels used on this tour. On our group and shoestring tours, these may change from time to time for other properties of a similar standard. If you would like to guarantee a particular hotel, please request a tailor-made tour.
Accommodation in Jordan is in 3-star hotels, with an optional upgrade available to the local 5-star level in Amman & Petra if you would like a more luxurious stay. In Egypt we use good quality hotels rated at the local 3 and 4-star level on this tour and an overnight stay on board a traditional felucca sailboat, plus from 2020 a comfortable Nubian Guesthouse in Aswan.
In Wadi Rum we use a comfortable Bedouin camp located on the desert sands, against the cliffs. Accommodation is in permanent traditional goat hair tents with proper beds and all bedding provided. Bathrooms are separate, though en-suite tents are also available and upgrades are available if required. You can also bring a sleeping bag if you wish, and find a sheltered spot on the rocks on the edge of the camp and sleep under the stars.
Gala Dinners:
Many of Egypt and Jordan's hotels and Nile cruise boats arrange a very special Gala Dinner with entertainment in the evening on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Payment for these is often optional on Christmas Eve (24 Dec) but compulsory on New Year's Eve (31 Dec), whether you attend or not. Prices can range from around US$30 to over US$150 per person. Final decisions on prices and whether dinners are compulsory are made relatively close to the time. We aim to always select hotels that make their Gala Dinners optional, though this is is not always possible. Gala Dinner prices are therefore not included in our prices, and will be added to your booking if required. More information is available on request.
If you would like some more comfort in place of the felucca, then an option is available to spend these two nights in a hotel instead.
Our trips feature a mix of different transport options and uses an air-conditioned minivan/minibus or coach subjec tto the size of the group for all the transfers, sightseeing, and journeys between cities. The jeeps used in Wadi Rum are provided by the local Bedouins we work with, and while suitable for your desert safari, they may fall below the normal safety and quality standards for vehicles we use during the rest of our tours.
In the rare event that there are only 2 or 3 people in the group, the itinerary in Egypt will be adjusted slightly. Instead of driving between Cairo and Aswan/Luxor, these journeys will be done by sleeper train instead. You will enjoy a private twin-bedded cabin with fold down beds (bedding provided), a sink, table and storage locker. An airline-tray style evening meal and breakfast are included. The Abydos & Dendara visit will be replaced by including the normally optional tour to Karnak Temple.
Amman-Cairo flight
The connecting flight from Amman to Cairo is not included in the price of this tour. It is left out of the set tour price as it is sometimes more cost effective for you to include this flight as part of your main international flight ticket. We are happy to assist with all your flights, just the Amman-Cairo flight, or none of them at all, whichever works best for you. Direct flights are available with both Egypt Air and Royal Jordanian Airlines. You can fly at anytime during the day - all transfers in Amman and Cairo are included.
Our Egypt and Jordan tours include a 24-hour airport meet & assist service in Amman and Cairo airports, your arrival and departure airport-hotel transfers and all other transfers.
On arrival in Jordan our representative will meet you in the immigration hall of Amman airport, before passport control. They will assist with visa formalities and then help you with your luggage and take you to your hotel.
On arrival in Egypt, our representative will meet you in the immigration hall of Cairo airport before you get to passport control. They will assist with visa formalities before helping you collect your luggage and taking you to your hotel.
On our Shoestring group tours we do offer optional hotel upgrades in Jordan. This may mean that additional pick-up and drop-offs are required each day. We do endeavour to ensure that all hotels used are close to each other and to streamline and time arrangements to limit any extra driving time as much as possible.
On tours combining Jordan and Egypt we do not include the connecting flight between the two countries in the tour price (normally between Amman (AMM) and Cairo (CAI) - see the inclusions/exclusions or extension option sections for details). This flight can often be built into your main international flight ticket, or we may be able to book this flight for you separately if you prefer - please contact us and we will advise you on available airlines, times and prices.
Most of our small-group tours have a maximum of 12-20 travellers. However, to keep costs down, we do allow our Shoestring tours to have slightly larger groups and this tour departs with a maximum of 32 travellers. Average group sizes are around 10-15. We may also share this departure with travellers booking onto our tour through other operators.
In Jordan we provide fully trained, local English-speaking guides for all of the sightseeing tours.
In Egypt we provide fully trained, local English-speaking Egyptologists to act as your tour guides for all of the sightseeing tours in Cairo and the Nile Valley.
Our local reps in all the towns and cities en-route are also at your service, and will be handling all the practical arrangements for the tour. We also use local Bedouin guides for tours through the desert.
At Encounters Travel we only use local guides and reps. We feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing. Please check our website for more details and profiles of some of our most famous guides.
The tour price does not include entrance fees to the sites visited on the tour.
We strongly recommend that you purchase a Jordan Pass prior to your travel to Jordan. This is a special package that has been designed by the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for tourists visiting Jordan. As well as including a discounted package of entrance fees covering all the sites in Jordan that you will visit on this tour (plus many others), the Jordan Pass also provides free downloadable digital brochures on each attraction, plus a free tourist visa for entering the country (40JD if obtained on arrival in Jordan).
The cost for the Jordan Wanderer Pass suitable for this tour is JD70 (approx. US$99). Passes are available by completing a simple online form before you travel, taking care to make sure your passport details are entered correctly as this doubles as your visa application. Your Jordan Pass will then be emailed to you as a pdf document, which you should print out and bring with you. You will then need to show this print out at the immigration desk on arrival in Jordan to obtain your free entry visa, and also at each attraction where it will be scanned to confirm your entry. Obtain your Jordan Pass here
Egypt:
In Egypt, the tour price does not include entrance fees to the tourist sites mentioned in the itinerary. Please check the Exclusions section for a guide to the amount you should allow for this tour (a 50% discount for minors or ISIC card holders is often, but not always available and prices are changed from time to time). Your guide will be happy to collect payment for all the entrance fees at the start of the tour, and pay them for you as you go along if you wish.
Jordan: Tipping is common practice in Jordan, as a sign of appreciation for services provided. You may therefore wish to tip your guide and driver at the end of the tour. You should not feel obliged to tip any particular amount, and should consider your personal budget. We are often asked to provide a guide however, and can suggest that approx. US$3-8 per person per day would be appropriate.
Egypt: Tipping is also very much a part of Egyptian culture and customs, and many people you meet along the way will expect and make it clear they are waiting for a tip. To make it easier for you to budget and to remove much of the stress and hassle of tipping lots of people as you go along, we collect a 'Tipping Kitty' at the start of your time in Egypt. Your guide will manage this as the tour goes along and ask one or more of the group members to assist and make some of the payments. The kitty provides tips for a wide range of people you'll meet along the tour including hotel porters, train and station staff, drivers, site guards, local reps etc. Please check the Excluded section below the tour itinerary for a budget for this tour. Your Egyptologist guide is not included in this kitty and you may tip them at the end of your tour subject to your satisfaction with and appreciation of the service they have provided. Again you should not feel obliged to tip any particular amount, and should consider your personal budget. As a guideline, approx. US$3-8 per person per day would be appropriate.
9. Passports and Visas - Jordan
To promote tourism to the country, the Jordanian government has designed the Jordan Pass. This provides adults of most nationalities with a free single entry Jordan visa (for stays of 3 nights or more), a discounted package of entrance fees, and free digital brochures for the various sites in Jordan. Please check the Jordan Pass tour note for more information.
Double or multi entry visas for Jordan are no longer available and you will need to arrange two visas if you are doing a combination tour (eg. with Egypt and/or Israel) that visits Jordan more than once. Exceptions may occur if you are crossing to and from Israel via the King Hussein Bridge - please contact us for details.
If you wish to arrange your visa separately in advance, or if your stay will be shorter than four days/3 nights, then a visa fee of 40JD (approx. USD 57) will be due.
Families with children under 12 are recommended not to purchase the Jordan Pass as entrance fees are not charged in Jordan for children under 12. Our Jordan Family tour prices include your entrance fees and we will also arrange a free visa for you on your arrival into Amman airport.
Other nationalities may require a visa prior to arrival and to obtain this in advance, please contact your local Jordanian embassy or consulate or a visa agency for details. In addition, if you plan to enter Jordan via the southern Wadi Araba crossing (Eilat-Aqaba) or the Allenby Bridge/King Hussein border with Israel in the north, you will need to obtain your Jordan visa in advance as these are not available on arrival at the border.
10. Passports and Visas - Egypt
12. Money - Jordan
The local currency in Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar (JD). You do not need to arrange to bring any Jordanian Dinar with you to Jordan as exchange facilities are available in the international airports and in most hotels, banks and bureau de changes in major towns. You should try to obtain and keep hold of small denomination notes or coins on you during the tour as these are useful for toilets, tips and small purchases. ATMs are readily available in major towns and many local shops will accept VISA/Mastercard or Amex, but may charge fees of up to 10% - check before you pay. Travellers cheques are not recommended as they can not be changed in many places now, and can incur high fees.
While in Jordan you will need sufficient funds to cover meals not included in the itinerary, drinks, snacks, souvenirs and personal expenses such as laundry. These should generally all be paid for in Jordanian Dinar, though tips for guides and drivers may be paid in hard currency (GBP, USD, EUR).
Luggage: Suitcases, rucksacks or fabric holdalls are all fine to bring with you to Egypt and Jordan. You should also bring a small daypack/bag to take out during the day. Your main luggage will normally be left in the hotel during your sightseeing trips - you will not need to carry it far, and there are nearly always hotel porters to assist.
Clothing: Most of your time in Egypt will be in a hot weather, while the climate in Jordan varies widely from hot days in the summer to cool and sometimes wet days in the winter months. However, at night, and especially in the deserts, the temperatures can drop quite dramatically. So you must pack for cool conditions. Formal dress (eg. suits & ties) is not required on the cruise boats or in 4 or 5-star hotel restaurants. Long sleeves are recommended to protect from mosquitoes if you are on the felucca. Modesty rates highly in Egypt and Jordan, especially for women, so to respect the local culture & people, please ensure all clothes are loose fitting and not revealing. Shorts (not hot-pants) are OK in tourist sites, as are T-shirts, but these should not show too much bare flesh (we suggest that your shoulders should remain covered). In the centre of Cairo and Amman, and when visiting any mosques, legs and arms should be covered.
Other items: We recommend that you bring a sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a basic first aid kit, toiletries, small towel, money belt, small torch, camera & charger. If you will be travelling on a felucca sailboat in Egypt then we recommend bringing a light sleeping sheet or sleeping bag liner all year round for comfort, and a light sleeping bag in the winter months (November to February). If your tour includes an overnight Bedouin camp in Jordan then bedding (sheets, blankets, pillow) is provided but we recommend bringing a light sleeping sheet or sleeping bag liner for comfort all year round (even with the best efforts, sand does find its way pretty much everywhere). In the winter months, or if you think you would like to sleep under the stars instead of in your tent, then we recommend you bring a sleeping bag with you as it can get very cold at night.
Footwear: For tours that are going on board a felucca sailboat, or walking on the Siq Trail in Wadi Mujib, we recommend that you bring some footwear that you don't mind getting completely wet. As there is a fair amount of walking involved on many of our tours in Jordan and Egypt, whether that be just sightseeing or some hiking, we recommend you bring comfortable walking shoes with you. You do not need any smart dress shoes, unless you want to visit some fancy restaurants and to dresss up accordingly.
We run regular departures on this tour throughout the year, starting on Mondays. All departures are guaranteed to run with a minimum of two travellers. Departure dates & prices are on our website (please check the website for up-to-date prices & special offers).
Jordan & Egypt Express & Country Reviews
Just amazing affordable price.
Posted 14th of Aug 2018
Overall good. Need better transportation. Tour guide good but needs to be more respectful of the female guests less touchy feely
POSTS FROM OUR BLOG Jordan & Egypt Express
By: Jarred Manasse 2019-10-17 12:31:24
Egypt's best felucca experience
In Egypt
Want to know what its like to spend the night floating away on the Nile River? If you're planning on booking an Egypt tour with us, you can find out!
By: Tara Jenneker 2019-07-14 13:10:09
A checklist for every sight you have to see in Cairo
If you love Cairo, it will love you back! Its beautiful chaos can be both infuriating yet beautiful all at the same time - the magnificence of the city will overwhelm you with its beauty and frenetic atmosphere.


In this July 6, 2018, file photo, a container ship is docked at a port in Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong Province. The Trump administration is proposing raising planned taxes on $200 billion in Chinese imports to 25 percent from 10 percent, turning up the pressure on Beijing in a trade war between the world's two biggest economies.
WASHINGTON — When all is said and done, President Donald Trump's trade war may be fated to fail. There are many reasons. One is that the target countries — prominently, China, Japan and Germany — won't accede to his demands. This is already happening. Another threat is a backlash among U.S. firms, hurt by tariffs that raise their products' prices. This, too, is happening.
But even if all these possibilities were avoided, the larger threat to Trump's trade agenda is the dollar's role as the major world currency. It dictates trade policy in ways not widely understood and is the ultimate cause of chronic U.S. trade deficits.
The dollar's role as the major world currency means it's used to settle trade transactions and make cross-border investments, even when Americans are not involved. As I've written before, the extra dollar demand boosts its value on foreign exchange markets. U.S. exports become more expensive and U.S. imports less so.
When something continues that long, it's not an aberration. It's an integral part of the global economy. In effect, the dollar provides a service to the rest of the world.
We are compensated for this service by receiving imports greater than our exports. Many Americans benefit. Imports restrain inflation and expand consumer choice; the flows of money into dollar instruments (Treasury securities, bank deposits, stocks, bonds) tend to lower interest rates.
But there are losers: most conspicuously, U.S. farmers, manufacturers and their workers. They face tougher foreign competition in both import and export markets.
Or as economist C. Fred Bergsten of the Peterson Institute puts it: "There's a structural component to our trade deficits, which is the central currency role of the dollar. This produces a constant over-valuation in trade terms. ... We disadvantage ourselves by running the world's key currency."
None of this is easy to convey to the public. Much simpler is Trump's narrative: U.S. trade deficits prove that other countries discriminate against American products; U.S. import restrictions are too loose. The cure is to eliminate the discrimination and to tighten import restrictions. The anti-American bias will disappear, as will large U.S. trade deficits.
It's a congenial theory, because — by assumption — trade deficits automatically become evidence that American firms are being victimized by someone, including their own government. If true, Trump's obsession with trade deficits would make sense. The trouble is that it isn't true.
The reality is that, well before Trump became president, global trade imbalances were shrinking. Figures from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) show that, as a share of the economy (gross domestic product), the U.S. current account deficit hit a recent peak of 5.8 percent in 2006 and dropped to 2.4 percent by 2017. The comparable figures for China were 9.9 percent of GDP in 2007 and 1.4 percent in 2017.
What caused the dramatic shift? Mainly changes in the business cycle, says a recent IMF report. Before the economy's collapse in 2008, strong spending generated huge trade flows and high oil prices. These produced large trade imbalances. When the Great Recession struck, these trends reversed. Trade flows weakened; oil prices fell; trade imbalances shrunk.
The implications are unexpected. Even by Trump's twisted view of trade, much of the needed adjustments have already occurred. If Trump succeeded — implausibly — in getting China and others to agree to reduce their trade imbalances, the needed changes would probably be milder than imagined.
"Maybe there was a case for seeking to limit disruption from China's exports during the 'China shock' period from 2001-2007 or so, when China's exports and trade surplus exploded in size," writes economist Timothy Taylor on his blog "The Conversable Economist." That case is now much weakened because trade imbalances "have dramatically declined ... well before any shots were fired in President Trump's trade war."
Trump has maneuvered himself and the country into a no-win conflict. He has infuriated America's allies by his reckless trade actions to raise tariffs and disrupt existing trade arrangements. If the impasse continues for months or years — a possibility — the damage to the world economy would be significant.
But even if these negotiations conclude successfully, the scope to make dramatic trade improvement is limited. The dollar's role as the major global currency imposes constraints. An appreciating dollar will tend to widen the United States' trade deficits. Trump has backed himself into a corner from which there is no easy exit.


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Aba-Made Products to get Global Standards – FG
By Business Hilights On Nov 15, 2021
The Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, has said that the federal government is committed to assisting entrepreneurs from the Aba business cluster to further develop and standardise their products to meet national and international markets requirements.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on the 2021 Made-in -Aba Trade Fair, Radda said the exhibition had become an important annual feature in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) business promotion calendar in the country. According to him, the 'Made in Aba Trade Fair' remains a flagship trade promotion activity between the National Assembly and SMEDAN through the Zonal Intervention Programmes. He said part of the objective were to bring to limelight the challenges and prospects of MSMEs, increase public awareness among the target participants on the strategic benefit of taking part in the fair as well as other SMEDAN programmes and achievements within the year under reference. The SMEDAN boss also explained that the initiate sought to create public awareness about the agency activities and programmes.
Mandilas President, Okeke sets agenda for Soludo in Anambra State
Nigeria to Auction 5G Spectrum in December, sets terms for bidders

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Home/Blogs/BLOG@CACM/The Work and Inspiration of the Commission on the.../Full Text
BLOG@CACM
The Work and Inspiration of the Commission on the History and Philosophy of Computing
By Robin K. Hill
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Philosophy, like other disciplines in the humanities, enjoys a mutually enlightening relationship with history. In literature, to know the story of the Oklahoma Dust Bowl allows individual character to emerge from the human suffering of Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. The philosophy of computer science, like other philosophy devoted to a particular subject, enjoys a mutually enlightening relationship with the history of that particular subject. In computer science, to read—yes, actually read—the Countess of Lovelace's translation of and notes on Menabrea's sketch explaining Babbage's Analytical Engine is to glimpse the an early articulation of Computational Thinking, and to marvel that similar terms are still used to explain repetition, symbols, and operations versus operands to beginners or laypersons, and to wonder what that means. I have been pleasantly surprised to find research in the history of computing quite interesting, and can only hope for reciprocal generosity toward philosophy on the part of historians.
With respect to computing, the international organization founded to bring together history and philosophy is HaPoC, the Commission on the History and Philosophy of Computing. Designated a Commission by both divisions of the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (http://www.iuhpst.org), it aims to "enhance our understanding of computing by means of historical and philosophical explorations." The dedicated and hard-working HaPoC leaders Liesbeth de Mol, of the Université de Lille, and Giuseppe Primiero, of Middlesex University London, explain how this came about.
Leibniz's famous motto 'Calculemus!' can be taken as an ideal expression of computing's increasing influence on everyday life. After personal computing developed into ubiquitous computing, it has become very hard not to depend somehow on it. Today, humans are re-designing their environment in view of computational devices (read: IoT) and the relatively recent wave of attention for so-called Computational Thinking and the associated educational reforms1 show how easily it is accepted that computing is the way humans (should?) live, think and act. This new reality overrides paradigms that have held for centuries: content access and creation, individual and collective identification, economic growth, political and social stability are just some aspects of our culture that have been reformed through the lens of computational devices and their control.
Despite the universal relevance of computing, its fundamentals are still considered specialist knowledge and remain hidden behind layers of interfaces, keeping the user afar. Even from within the discipline, a full understanding of computing is becoming more difficult, as it is harder to move across research areas and learn techniques without losing sight of a bigger picture. Consider the yet unbridged distance between formal methods and software engineering, as an example. While the large spectrum of disciplines relevant to technical systems and their full social deployment grows, fundamental issues of computing remain unresolved. Indeed, today there is not even a consensus on what computer science really is, let alone agreement on the right model of computation, or on the best approach to software engineering education, to name but a few of such crucial issues.
In this context, an essential aspect of studying, working and indeed living with computing is to be able to locate its principles both in a temporal and in a conceptual landscape. The ambition to reconsider fundamental issues of computing from a historical and philosophical angle, aiming at an interdisciplinary and pluralistic understanding of its practices, is neither simple nor trivial. But such an approach allows avoiding any reductionist understanding of computing and so allows an embrace of the non-monolithic nature of the discipline: modern computing is not just engineering, though it requires techniques and insights to develop responsibly hard- and soft-ware products, and to keep them transparent; it is not just mathematics, though it requires a deep, distinctive understanding of the relationship between the abstract and the concrete; and it is not just a science, in the standard sense the term has acquired since the experimental method. This perspective also builds on the assumption that computing as a whole brings together all these different variations and practices in order to bridge the gap between mechanized symbol manipulation and human thinking. It is in this complexity that computing's multilayered character resides and that the interactions between humans, programs and hardware exist through multiple layers of abstraction.
Our understanding of computing is therefore guided by the historical need to render transparent these different layers, by re-tracing the origin of ideas and their context. It also relies on the philosophical method of identifying fundamental problems, instructing conceptual clarity and offering a broader but also more reflective perspective. The true challenge, then, is to find a way, a method, to bring history and philosophy to computing (and conversely). It is the challenge we took when organizing the first Conference on the History and Philosophy of Computing at Ghent University (Belgium) in 2011.2 As academics, we lacked a platform that allowed a conversation on computing from different perspectives: there was some excellent work done on the "soft" side of computing (sociology, ethics, politics, etc) within existing but separate communities (cfr. SIGCIS for history and IACAP for philosophy), but not much was done either to connect those communities, or to engage with the practitioners and their technical know-how, not shying away from reflections on machine details, programming code or logical calculi. To this day, we consider these both to be necessary prerequisites, if the aim is to offer something that matters not only to historians and philosophers but also to computer scientists, logicians, engineers and mathematicians.
Following the first event, together with several others we founded the Commission for the History and Philosophy of Computing (www.hapoc.org), under the Division for the History of Science and Technology and the Division of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science and Technology. The conference has evolved into a series, with subsequent editions organised in Paris in 2013, in Pisa in 2015 3 and with a 4th edition programmed in 2017 in Brno. We also organize a bi-annual symposium on the History and Philosophy of Programming, which previously took place in Birmingham 4, London 5 and Paris 6. We have also been involved with a number of other stand-alone events and actively participate with a Special Session in the programme of the annual Conference Computability in Europe (http://www.computability.org.uk).
Our aim remains to create opportunities where different approaches are embraced and discussed to advance our understanding of computing and its history. Instead of focusing on the differences between the communities involved, we want to move across the disciplinary divides, to facilitate discussion and exchanges. To realize this, we actively bring together different people and communities contributing to this experimental project. Our events have included logicians alongside artists; programmers alongside historians; computer scientists alongside philosophers. We are strongly convinced that such collaborative project can add to the maturity of the field and hope that anyone, computer scientists, software engineers, historians, philosophers, artists, practitioners sharing our need for a deep historical and foundational reflection on computing, will be willing to step outside their respective comfort zone, to discuss and collaborate with people who do not necessarily share the same methods, but who also care for the field.
1 For a critical account see: Tedre, M. and Denning, P.J. 2016. The Long Quest for Computational Thinking, Proceedings of the 16th Koli Calling Conference on Computing Education Research, pp. 120-129.
2 L. de Mol, G. Primiero (eds.). 2014. Trends in the History and Philosophy of Computing, Philosophy & Technology 27:3; and L. de Mol, G. Primiero (eds.). 2015. Logical Issues in the History and Philosophy of Computing, History & Philosophy of Logic 36:3
3 F. Gadducci, M. Tavosanis, (eds.). 2016. History and Philosophy of Computing, Third International Conference, HaPoC 2015, Pisa, Italy, October 8-11, 2015, Revised Selected Papers, IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technologies, vol. 487
4 L. de Mol, G. Primiero (eds.). 2012. Proceedings of the Symposium on History and Philosophy of Programming, AISB/IACAP World Congress 2012, University of Birmingham. The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour, ISBN 978-1-908187-17-8.
5 L. de Mol, G. Primiero (eds.). 2014. Proceedings of the Second Symposium on History and Philosophy of Programming, AISB/IACAP World Congress 2014, Goldsmith University of London. The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour, http://doc.gold.ac.uk/aisb50/#s13
6 L. de Mol, G. Primiero (eds.). Forthcoming 2017. Reflections on Operating Systems – Historical and Philosophical Aspects, Philosophical Studies Series, Springer.
Robin K. Hill is adjunct professor in the Department of Philosophy, and in the Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research, of the University of Wyoming. She has been a member of ACM since 1978.
Thank you, Professors De Mol and Primiero. All of the references repay investigation, as do the publications listed on the HaPoC website, and those in the Proceedings mentioned above. The upcoming HaPoC conference in Brno (Czech Republic) particularly invites works that address computers and art, in honor of the historic exhibition of digital art called Computer Graphic, held there in February of 1968. Readers, perhaps we will see you there.


For James Veitch, a British writer and comedian with a mischievous side, spam emails proved the perfect opening to have some fun, playing the scammers at their own game.
Packed full of Nigerian princes, can't miss investment opportunities and eligible Russian brides, James Veitch's correspondence with email spammers leads to surprising, bizarre and usually hilarious results. Out of this experiment came his first book, Dot Con. In 2014, his first solo comedy show The Fundamental Interconnectedness of Everyone with an Internet Connection, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe to wide acclaim. His second show, Genius Bar, focussed on his time working for Apple, chronicles his attempts to fix his relationship using the same troubleshooting techniques he'd been using to fix iMacs, iPhones and iPods. He is currently writing his third show and preparing to tour the UK.
He lives in London with his full body pillow.


Stop searching! We present to you a selection of 37 interesting and top No Cats Allowed Sign collection. On our site with the button "search" you will find other great free clip arts.You can use No Cats Allowed Sign images for your website, blog, or share them on social networks.
IMT Florida Club Apartments in Boynton Beach, FL | Apartments.


Winslow genealogy / compiled and indexed by Irene J. Olney.
Donated by: Irene Janice (Kellicut) Olney in memory of Henry A. & Cynthia (Thomas) Winslow.
Publisher: [Coldwater, MI] : Irene Olney, 2005.
History of the Winslow family.


Here is a recipe of healthy sugar free oats and fruit cookies. I have used mashed banana and honey for sweetening them. You can also use apple pulp instead. Cinnamon powder goes well with banana and apple flavour. I just love the aroma while the cookies are being baked.
1. Beat the butter and honey until blended.
2. Add the egg and beat it until well mixed.
3. Now add the oats, flour, mashed banana, salt, raisins, baking soda. Stir to mix all the ingredients. Finally add red currants and dessicated coconut and stir carefully. The moisture of mashed banana, honey and egg is sufficient to bind the dough.
5.Take a small portion and flatten it on your palm. Place them baking sheet and flatten the cookies with a fork.
6. Bake them for about 15 - 20 minutes or until light brown.
Look really yummy, healthy too since they are made out of whole wheat flour.
delicious no sugar cookies :) wonderful recipe..


The Blues season started with great disappointment then turned around in stunning fashion. After nearly winning a division title, the question is what will the playoff run bring? It's the subject of the latest TKO (The Kilcoyne Opinion).


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Batman: Arkham City är ett actionspel utvecklat av Rocksteady Studios och gavs ut av Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment till Playstation 3, Xbox 360 och Microsoft Windows under hösten 2011. En Wii U- och Mac OS-version av spelet utvecklades och gavs ut mellan november och december 2012.

Spelet är baserad kring DC Comics' superhjälte Batman, och är uppföljaren till Batman: Arkham Asylum från 2009. En uppföljare till spelet, med titeln Batman: Arkham Knight, kommer att ges ut under oktober 2014. En prequel till spelen, med titeln Batman: Arkham Origins, gavs ut i oktober 2013.

Synopsis
Spelet utspelar sig ett år efter händelserna i Batman: Arkham Asylum, och som tar sin början med skapandet av ett nytt superfängelse, Arkham City, i hjärtat av Gotham City under Hugo Strange och borgmästare Quincy Sharps översyn. Varenda fånge från "Blackgate Penitentiary" och "Arkham Asylum" tvingas in i gettot med endast en regel att följa; försök inte att fly. Kaos utbryter i Arkham City med stora gängkrig och varje fånge tvingas kämpa för sitt liv. Bruce Wayne (Batman) börjar snabbt att motarbeta Hugo Strange, vilket kulminerar i att Wayne själv ger sig in i politiken och kidnappas av Hugo Stranges egen specialstyrka, TYGER. Batman måste nu försöka få ett slut på konflikterna och ta reda på vad som egentligen försiggår bakom Arkham Citys murar.

Handling
En presskonferens i protest mot Arkham City, hållen av multimiljonären Bruce Wayne, får ett abrupt slut då soldater från TYGER under direktör Hugo Stranges order griper in och anhåller Wayne. Han förhörs därefter av Strange som avslöjar att han är medveten om Waynes alias Batman och med honom nu bakom Arkham Citys murar är alla brickor i spelet utsatta då Stranges plan Protocol 10 kan sättas till verket. Strange berättar att nedräkningen på tio timmar har börjat innan han för in Wayne till själva gettot under alla fångarnas nåd. Där får han ett välkomnande av sin fiende och rival Penguin som Wayne dock lyckas övermanna innan han tar sin tillflykt mot hustaket där hans butler Alfred förser honom med Batmandräkten och utrustning.

Wayne, nu i rollen som Batman, bestämmer sig för att ta reda på vad som försiggår i Arkham City och för att rädda Catwoman från att bli avrättad av Two-face, då hon kanske kan förse Batman med information om vad Protocol 10 går ut på. Efter att ha lyckats rädda Catwoman undkommer hon med nöd och näppe ännu ett mordförsök efter att Jokern avlossat ett skott mot henne i ett försök att få Batmans uppmärksamhet. Då Catwoman vet lika lite som Batman om vad Protocol 10 handlar om bestämmer han sig för att gå efter Jokern för att ta reda på vad Protocol 10 innebär och om ryktena om att samarbete mellan Jokern och Stranges är sanna. Batman spårar skottet till en närliggande kyrka där han möts av Harley Quinn och några av Jokerns mannar som tillfångatagit de läkare som hållit till där. Batman lyckas rädda läkarna, men Quinn lyckas fly med en av dem. Efter att ha undersökt kyrktornet, som visar sig vara en fälla riggad med bomber, fortsätter Batman sin jakt på Jokern och spårar honom till hans eget territorium vid stålverket.

Batman räddar den tillfångatagna läkaren som avslöjar att Jokern söker hjälp med att bota en sjukdom han dragit på sig efter användandet av Titan vid händelserna på Arkham Asylum ett år tidigare. Batman konfronterar Jokern som genom att spela död lyckas tillfångata sin ärkefiende och injicerar sitt smittade blod i hans arm. Jokern förklarar att han är döende på grund av sjukdomen och därför försökt få hit Batman för att hjälpa honom att hitta ett botemedel samt använda honom att ta ut sina konkurrenter i Arkham City. Mr. Freeze var tidigare utpressad av Jokern att tillverka ett botemedel innan han blev tillfångatagen av clownens rival, Penguin, med hjälp av Hugo Strange som spelar ut skurkarna mot varandra. Jokern behöver nu Batmans hjälp i att få tag på Mr. Freeze och botemedlet och ger honom inget annat val då Batman själv nu är smittad, liksom alla de människor i alla de sjukhus dit Jokern skeppat sitt förgiftade blod. Jokern avslöjar dessutom att han aldrig hört talas om Protocol 10 vilket Batman nu får lägga åt sidan tills han hittat botemedlet.

Efter en lång jakt lyckas Batman lokalisera Mr. Freeze i Penguins tillhåll det naturhistoriska museet där Penguin låter honom slåss för sin överlevnad i sin gladiator ring. Batman lyckas rädda Mr. Freeze samt de tillfångatagna poliserna där innan han konfronterar Penguin som släpper lös sitt monster Solomon Grundy. Batman tvingas kämpa en svår strid innan han till sist besegrar Grundy och tillfångatar Penguin. Efteråt avslöjar Mr. Freeze att botemedlet inte går att skapa då det bryts ner över tiden och att det skulle krävas blod från någon som levt hundratals år för att tillverka det. Batman ser Ra's al Ghul som en möjlighet och spårar denne via en ninja under hans tjänst som hållits fången hos Penguin men nu brutit sig fri.

Jakten tar honom via kloakerna ner till en underjordisk stad under namnet Wonder City som skapades av Ra's men för länge seden såg sin undergång efter invånarnas stora användning av kemikalien Lazarus. I Wonder City möts Batman av Ra's dotter Talia som avslöjar att Ra's är svårt sjuk och i behov av en ersättare för vilken Batman skulle passa perfekt. Batman antar utmaningen för att ta rollen som överhuvud för deras organisation då det är enda sättet att kunna nå Ra's och ta hans blod. Batman får ta del av Lazarus för att fördröja det svåra effekterna av Titan-sjukdomen och utsätts för starka hallucinationer. Efter att ha klarat utmaningen konfronterar han Ra's som avslöjar att hans sista prov är att ta hans liv för att ersätta honom. Batman gör klart att han inte tänker bryta sin kodex och ta ett liv utan bara ville komma i kontakt med Ra's som i ursinne tar Lazarus för att tillfriskna och utmanar Batman, som lyckas besegra Ra's och tar av hans blod och lämnar med ett hot om att inte försöka sig på något ont igen.

På vägen tillbaka till ytan får Batman se prov på Hugo Stranges korrupta skötsel av Arkham City då han förser de stora gängen med vapen för deras strid över kontroll av gettot samt avslöjar att självaste borgmästare Sharp nu gjort sitt inträde i Arkham City. Batman lyckas rädda Sharp som berättar att han och Strange hade mäktiga vänner som hjälpte dem att godkänna byggandet av Arkham City och få dem i kontroll över Gotham. Batman fortsätter till Mr. Freeze med Ra's blod som lyckas tillverka ett botemedel. Freeze låser dock in det utom Batmans räckhåll och ställer ett ultimatum där Batmans måste hjälpa honom att rädda hans fru Nora från Joker i utbyte mot botemedlet. Batman konfronterar Freeze och lyckas besegra honom för att finna botemedlet stulit under tiden de slogs av Harley Quinn som nu för det till Joker.

Batman tar sig till stålverket för att finna en frisk Joker hålla ett tal för sina mannar i förberedelse för ett flyktförsök med hjälp av de vapnen Strange försett dem med. Trots hans uppenbara välmående hittar Batman Quinn fastbunden vilket tyder på att något gått snett på vägen. Batman möter till sist Joker och ber om botemedlet men tvingas istället slåss mot sin ärkefiende. Deras uppgörelse får ett abrupt slut när nedräkningen för Protocol 10 nått sitt slut och Strange sätter sin plan till verket. Genom de vapnen han försett fångarna med har han nu förklarat Arkham City en fara för Gotham och fått statsrådets godkännande att ödelägga Arkham City och dess invånare innan det går utom kontroll. Stranges armada av helikoptrar sveper över gettot där han via sin plan fått tillåtelse att utrota all Gothams kriminalitet i ett enda drag. Då de avfyrar sina missiler mot stålverket faller taket ner och Batman hamnar under spillrorna under Jokers nåd. Talia anländer och erbjuder Joker källan till Lazarus i utbyte mot Batmans liv. Joker går med på det och lämnar tillsammans med Talia som aktiverar en sändare för Batman att förfölja dem.

Med hjälp från Catwoman kommer Batman loss från spillrorna och ställs nu inför ett val om att antingen följa Joker för att rädda sin älskade Talia, eller stoppa Strange och Protocol 10 för att rädda alla hundratals fångar. Det krävs övertalning från både Alfred och Oracle innan Batman tvingas ta det svåra valet att överge Talia och istället stoppa Strange. Han börjar klättra uppför Wonder Tower där Strange håller till och stänger av Protocol 10 framför Stranges ögon. Plötsligt anländer Ra's till tornet och överraskar Strange genom att sticka svärdet i honom för hans misslyckande att stoppa Batman. Ra's avslöjar att han och hans organisation legat bakom Stranges projekt hela tiden med utlovandet att han skulle få ta Ra's plats som överhuvud. Ra's påpekar dock att Batman än en gång visat sig värdigare och att Strange och Arkham City misslyckats. Strange utlöser i hämnd Protocol 11 vilket får hela tornet att explodera där Batman lyckas glida till säkerhet medan Ra's faller till sin död.

Med Protocol 10 avklarat vänder Batman åter sin uppmärksamhet till Joker som nu håller Talia som gisslan i teatern ovanför Lazarus källan. Batman konfronterar sin ärkefiende som avslöjar sin villfarelse då den friska Joker visar sig vara Clayface som spelat rollen för att höja moralen bland Jokers mannar medan den riktiga Joker fortfarande är sjuk och i behov av botemedlet då Lazarus endast fördröjer Titan-sjukdomen. Joker misstänker nu Batman för att ha stoppat Harley och stulit det men det visar sig istället vara Talia som bundit fast Quinn och lagt beslag på botemedlet. Joker avrättar henne med sin pistol och en strid utbryter innan han hinner få tag på sitt botemedel mellan Batman och Clayface, som besegrad faller i Lazarus källan. Batman dricker av botemedlet och Joker gör ett sista försök att få tag på det men det faller istället till marken. Batman avslöjar att trots allt Joker gjort skulle han ändå ha gett honom botemedlet, vilket får Joker att skratta över ironin i det hela och dör med ett stort leende på läpparna.

Batman bär sin döde ärkefiende ut genom muren då gryningen anländer för att signalera att natten äntligen är över.

Karaktärer

Nyheter
Flera nyheter tillkommer till Arkham City, bland annat att man nu kan spela sidouppdrag förutom själva huvud-storyn. Flera nya rörelser och attacker går att använda i spelet, samt en större arsenal av Batmans ikoniska vapen. Flera nya och gamla superskurkar gör även ett framträdande i Arkham City, bland annat The Joker, Harley Quinn, The Penguin, Riddler, Two-Face, Ra's al Ghul och Mr Freeze. Catwoman ingår som spelbar karaktär vid köp av ett nytt exemplar av spelet. Spelbar Robin och Dick Grayson går även att köpas i alla versioner av spelet.

Mottagande

Spelet fick ett mycket varmt mottagande. Webbplatserna GameRankings och Metacritic gav genomsnittsbetygen 96,12% och 96/100 till Playstation 3-versionen av spelet, 93,88% och 94/100 till Xbox 360-versionen, 90,43% och 91/100 till PC-versionen, samt 84,88% och 85/100 till Wii U-versionen.

Försäljning
Av cirka 4,6 miljoner levererade exemplar hade spelet sålts i två miljon exemplar under sin första vecka på marknaden, jämfört med Arkham Asylum, som sålde 4,3 miljoner under hela dess release. Detta gjorde Arkham City till ett av de snabbast säljande spelen någonsin. Den 8 februari 2012 meddelades att över sex miljoner exemplar hade levererats sedan dess release.

Under den första försäljningsveckan i Storbritannien toppade Batman: Arkham City listan på de bäst säljande spelen på alla plattformar, inklusive Playstation 3- och Xbox 360-listorna, som övertog FIFA 12:s plats. Det blev den fjärde största spellanseringen år 2011 efter FIFA 12, Gears of War 3 och L.A. Noire, och Warner Bros' största brittiska spellansering någonsin, som blev en fördubbling av Arkham Asylums första försäljningsvecka. Det blev det tionde mest sålda spelet år 2011 med cirka tio veckor under dess release, och det 34:e mest sålda spelet år 2012.

Enligt NPD Group var Batman: Arkham City det näst bästsäljande spelet i USA under oktober 2011, som såldes i 1,5 miljoner exemplar inom samtliga plattformar, det tionde mest sålda i november och det sjunde bästsäljande spelet år 2011 totalt sett. Dessutom tillkännagav speluthyrningstjänsten GameFly att det var det mest efterfrågade spelet år 2011, och som slog ut Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Referenser

Externa länkar
 Officiell webbplats

Datorspel 2011
Xbox 360-spel
Xbox One-spel
Playstation 3-spel
Playstation 4-spel
Windows-spel
Wii U-spel
Arkham City, Batman
Öppen värld
Sneak 'em up-spel

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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The Alamo-Lafayette Cemetery District was formed as an independent California Special District in 1937. We consist of two pioneer cemeteries, one located in Lafayette and the other in Danville. The Lafayette Cemetery's first burial was in 1854 and the Alamo Cemetery's first burial was in 1856.
Burials are scheduled Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, between 9:00AM to 1:00PM for full casket burials and 9:00AM to 2:00PM for cremation or niche burials, with a two business (2) day notice. Also, burials can be scheduled on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays or after hours for an additional fee.
The Alamo and Lafayette cemeteries have some of the oldest pioneer families and local historical figures buried within the grounds. Below, we have self-guided tours that guide you through the cemeteries. Each self-guided tour contains a map to help you find your way and historical information on some of our most prominent local figures.
The Alamo-Lafayette Cemetery District rules, regulations, and policies are subject to change by the Board of Trustees' approval. The District Manager has the authority to make decisions per individual circumstances. For the most up to date information, please contact the cemetery office.


Sometime between now and April the SNCF plans to attempt to set a new world speed record - with a hoped speed of up to 540 mph (335 mph about) on a portion of the recently completed LGV Est line around the new Champagne TGV station near Reims. This section of line is particularly straight and has no major gradients.
well the article i was referencing, from a UK train mag just arrived, said the attempt would be from Feb - April so must be old snooze now. This is obviously the same record i was talking about.
Thanks for saying it's passe and was successful.
The tests are still going on (until april) the goal is 560 - 570 km/h.
The have promised to slow down when the train travels through "interesting" areas.
not sure about the new LGV Est right of way but i rode the new high-speed Cologne to Frankfurt Airport line recently - up to 195 mph only, a snail's pace relatively to the TGV test speeds - and even if the train were going slower due to wind screens and numerous tunnels you see little of the relatively bucolic rural area the train blasts thru.
Of course trying to change folks from planes to trains so speed is a critical factor.
Norween- thanks for the update.
Tongue was firmly in cheek! I am developing a real love for rail travel. Next, I'll have an anorak and note book!
A to be a train spotter at Clapham Junction! take my thermos with me.
Back to TGV speed record already set and aiming higher, thanks to norween!
Project is called V150 as this translates in French to vitesse 150, the number of metres translating to 540 km/hr running.
Like norween said, they are now aiming higher - SNCF has strongly denied that they are aiming for as high as 600 km/hr or aim for the world's rail speed record of 581 km/hr done by a Japanese maglev train - should say the new TGV record, beating an old TGV mark set near Chartres 5.15.3 km/hr set in May 1990, is for a conventional train on rails.
The test train, from Alsthom, is a prototype of Alsthom's future high-speed train, which, due to having power distributed throughout the whole train set, will also seat 20% more folks than current TGVs - so faster and more economical to operate i guess.
Next- how they had to fashion the train for the high-speed record attempt.
"...from a UK train mag just arrived..."
Typical for a UK train - two weeks late.
The Italian train mag is yet to arrive!
What preparations were made for the record assault?
on the 'trailer cars' the central two trailer bogies are replaced with bogies equipped with thenew type traction motors for the AGV, Alsthom's future high-speed train i mentioned above that will distribute power throughout the train set to allow for 20% more seating capacity with same length of train.
the overhead wire will be adjsted to a much higher tension than normal and the voltage will be hyped up significantly over that required for normal running.


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Your question: Is it disrespectful to use Greek god names?
Is it offensive to name yourself a Greek god?
Is it disrespectful to use a God's name?
Do Greek people name their children after the gods?
Can I name my child Apollo?
Can ARES be a girl name?
What does the Bible say about using the Lords name in vain?
Is saying OMG taking the Lord's name in vain?
What does the Bible say about Gods name?
How do Greek people name their kids?
How do Greek names work?
Is Zeus a boy or girl?
It's considered hubris and in bad taste to take the name of a god. However, theophoric names were/are common – i.e., names that are derived from and reflective of a deity. E.g., Diogenes stems from Zeus ("dio"), Apollodoros in honor of Apollon, Demetria after Demeter.
Exodus 20:7 tells us that we are not to misuse the name of the Lord, our God. … When you misuse or disrespect God's name, you are offending the creator of the universe. God wants His name to be treated with respect. There are so many ways we can use God's name correctly.
Ancient Greek naming customs were also used to honor the pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses, with many children being named in their favor. … For example, Ancient Greeks would name their children "Dionysios" after the god "Dionysos," modifying the name into adjectival form.
A well-known name, yes, but not one traditionally used as a personal name among English speakers. Interesting, though, Apollo just entered America's Top 1000 list for the first time in 2013 (ranked #969 and given to just over 200 baby boys).
IMPORTANT: Best answer: How many languages did Luther translate the Bible?
Ares – Girl's name meaning, origin, and popularity | BabyCenter.
Exodus 20:7 says: "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." … The simplest meaning of this name for God refers to His self-existence or His eternality (God has always existed).
"If you say something like 'Oh my God,' then you're using His name in vain, but if you're saying something like OMG it's not really using the Lord's name in vain because you're not saying 'Oh my God. ' It's more like 'Wow.
"I manifested Thy name unto the men whom Thou gavest me out of the world." (17:6) "I made known unto them Thy name, and will make it known" (17:26) In Revelation 3:12 those who bear the name of God are destined for the New Jerusalem; which will come down (to earth) from heaven.
Traditionally, Greek families name their new baby on the seventh day or tenth day after her birth. Naming conventions in Greece are quite rigid, and parents don't usually choose names that they simply like the sound of. The eldest boy in a family, for example, is usually named after his paternal grandfather.
IMPORTANT: Your question: Who is the father of Enoch in the Bible?
Under Greek naming conventions, people have a first name, followed by a patronymic name and family name, e.g. Nikos Georgiou KYPIANOS. The patronymic name is derived from the father's personal name, usually with the suffix '-ou' meaning 'of'. … Many Greeks have names that correspond to a saint.
The name Zeus is a boy's name of Greek origin. The supreme Olympian god represents a mighty image for a little fella to live up to, but more and more parents are beginning to consider it seriously.


ABOUT US - Custom Landscape & Irrigation, Inc.
We are primarily a residential landscape contracting business having worked in the Reno area since 1982. We are a family owned business and take pride in the quality of our work, attention to detail, concern for customer satisfaction, and our continuing pursuit of technical excellence in the field of irrigation and water management. We have a passion for efficient use of water, our scarcest resource. We pursue our education, and keep current with new technology through our membership in the Irrigation Association (IA) (http://irrigation.org) the largest national association promoting education and efficient use of irrigation water.
Our services include landscape and hardscape installation; water management, irrigation installation, repair, and maintenance; landscape maintenance.


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Haute Property
A private sandy beach on Lake Austin? This home has it — and more.
CultureMap Create
1430 Rockcliff Rd.
Neighborhood: Rockcliff Estates
Baths: 7 full, 2 partial
Price: Upon request
The lowdown: Those looking for the ultimate in lake living couldn't do much better than this manor-style waterfront home, which is located on two-plus gated acres with a rare private channel to its own two-slip, two-story boathouse. Not only that, it also comes with it own sandy beach and hike and bike trail, offering private recreation around Lake Austin that literally no other home can. The house itself is airy, with soaring ceilings and luxe finishes, but once again you'll be drawn outside to enjoy the pool, outdoor kitchen, and stone fireplace.
This home is on the market with Allison Curleeof Kuper Sotheby's International Realty. Click hereto contact the agent.
A sparkling pool can be found in the backyard.
Photo courtesy of Kuper Sotheby's International Realty
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We're No. 3
Texas ranks among best states to start a business
Natalie Harms, InnovationMap
Texas ranked behind Utah, No. 1, and Florida, No. 2
For years, Texas has been lauded for its business climate being welcoming for new businesses and startups. This year's study shows that the Lone Star State has yet again made the list.
Texas ranked as the third best state to start a business in personal finance website WalletHub's recent list, 2023's Best & Worst States to Start a Business, with a score of 56.85 points. Texas ranked behind Utah, No. 1, and Florida, No. 2, and just ahead of Colorado. Idaho, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, and California make up the rest of the top 10, respectively.
The study looked at 27 key indicators of startup success across all 50 states. Texas was recognized for these factors in particular:
No. 10 – average growth in number of small businesses
No. 30 – labor costs
No. 10 – ava