They’re the cradles of civilisations our modern metropolises still aspire to… and we’re planning our return to Africa and the Middle East.
The grand old cities of Jerusalem and Petra.
Spanning across the ages, one a living museum, the other a Modern Wonder of the World, they have rightly been honoured.
Ten out of ten
In Travel + Leisure’s 10 Best Cities in Africa and the Middle East.
Jerusalem I have seen longingly, like Moses, from atop Mount Nebo on my G Adventures odyssey.
Petra, I have stood up close to, by a camel, whose ancestor would have carried a Nabataean in days of yore.
With divining rods for water to trade for the jewels of the desert… the Nalbataean that is.
At the other end of the spectrum, Tel Aviv shows Israel’s modern face.
Now being of the male variety, and so a listaholic, most rolls of honour fall into my remit.
Heroes in Capes
I’d have to see more of Cape Town than just the airport as I did on the way to the Eastern Cape.
And would have had Covid not popped its head up as we were puttImg the final touches to our trip to Napoleon’s island, St Helena.
The old perennials naturally pop up on the list.
Marrakech, the Pink City, was my first port of entry into Africa.
And, of course, you can’t hold a whole continent against one country for an experience.
Of getting mugged in the souks and food poisoning in the Sahara.
So that the best experience of Morocco was in the airport back in Fez.
Although the good readers of Travel +
Leisure also have a penchant for the Moroccan port of Essaouira.
I’ll take your word for it.
Gulf in class
Where as a memento I brought back a camel scene handbag for my Dear Old Mum which she flashed around her Bridge club.
The Gulf has also been on the radar with visits from Dubair and Muscat delegations during my time in Dublin.
And after they got in touch and we explored opportunities in Abu Dhabi
Of course, it is pure indulgence to sit around and grade a continent and a region’s cities.
But it does serve another, healthy purpose… to travel in our imagination.
To share experiences and knowledge and plan our return to Africa and the Middle East.
Now which are your favourite cities?