A quick getaway from work and the fastest border crossing ever meant that we were at ‘our’ pretty Jebel Shams camping area in time to enjoy a fireside drink while watching the moon rise.

Margaret, an Al Ain friend, and colleague of Sue’s, joined us for the weekend. She is an ex-English teacher so I am feeling paranoid about my usual haphazard use of commas and apostrophes.

We think that this area is stunningly beautiful, in a very rugged, bleak sort of a way, but maybe we have got just a little blasé about it all. Margaret forced us to reassess as she enthused about every aspect from drinks around camp fire (well especially drinks around the campfire if the truth be told), the moon rise over Jebel Shams, the idilic swimming hole above the abandoned village and the ancient Beehive Tombs that we seem to have visited about 100 times.

‘Our’ campsite on the Jebel Shams plateau

The cliff hanger walk to the abandoned village has spectacular views

We tried to retrace the track we had followed through Wadi Nakhur with Clair and Jonathan but the recent rains had blocked the road. We still had some stunning views.

This was the first time we had explored the ruined village at the entrance to Wadi Nakhur. It is also the start of a walk up the plateau where we camped so maybe we will be back to do that one day.