Jordan Part II

After spending the morning bobbing in the Dead Sea and trying to see across to the Promised Land it was time for an afternoon in the Spa. We had decided to spend a day relaxing and it was one of the best ideas I have had!!!! I had the Dead Sea package which consisted off: salt scrub, dead sea wrap, massage and facial. It was fantastic! Very relaxing and I am convinced I look 20 years younger......I am sure our guide felt 20 years younger after having a day free of the two of us!! We were off to Petra-one of the reasons for the trip! We drove along the Dead Sea and saw the phosphate, sulpher and Dead Sea product factories. We also stopped off at one of the crusader castles in the middle of the country. I can't even describe the amazing landscapes throughout the whole country. I have never seen so many different types of land formations. We spent the day traversing the country, shopping and eating before arriving in the city that is right outside of Petra. We were up early the next day and met our guide who would walk us through Petra. We walked about 2 kms from the visitors center through the "Siq" which is a narrow walkway that has been carved out by water throughout the years. It also served as a natural defense throughout centuries. Petra is also a "lost city" and was not rediscovered until the early '30's. Just when you think you will never get there the "Siq" opens up and you are staring at the Treasury which was carved out of the face of a giant slab of rock. I will provide pictures because it is impossible to describe....until I had made the plans to go to Petra I had thought the Treasury was all there was to Petra...little did I know. We needed two full days there. We walked through city, seeing all of the tombs, the collanade where shops and houses were until we reached the steps to the Monastery. While walking we were offered donkey rides, camel rides and postcards for a dinar! There are still two bedouin tribes that live in Petra. I have decided my retirement plans must include living in Petra and being in charge of the donkeys-camels seem too tempermental! The monastery is at the top of 950 steps, for some reason when I heard this I pictured 950 steps straight up to the top but I was wrong. The steps wound through a mountain-and there were some rather precarious moments. Off course we had to give the donkeys carrying people to the top the right of way. The donkey's were led by 5-6 year old bedouin children-I'm still not sure who was in charge-the donkeys or the children! After about an hour we made it to the top and it was fantastic. The walk up was part of the adventure-once again the views were absolutely stunning. After reaching the top we continued to explore and I was thrilled to find a diet coke! We headed back down and wandered back to the Siq-it got dark at about 4:30 and we wanted to be out before it was dark-but that was not the last we saw of Petra. That night at 8:30 we joined 458 of our closest friends and went to Petra after dark. The Bedouins set up candles through the Siq and we were all asked to quietly make our way down to the Treasury. It was amazing to walk through the Siq-the moon was full, it was quiet and so peaceful. Once we got back to the Treasury candles were lined up on the ground in front of the monument and we all sat on the ground, were given tea and listened to two musicians play old Bedouin music. It was fantastic.
Unfortunately we only had one day left......but as they say the best is often saved for last. We went to Wadi Rum-which is where Lawrence of Arabia was filled. We loaded into the back of a Toyota pickup (no such thing as OSHA or toilet paper in Jordan!!!) and were driven through Wadi Rum-once again it was indescribable-so I have included pictures....I have already decided that I am going back to Jordan in the fall. You can stay overnight in Wadi Rum at a Bedouin camp (they may even let me take care of the donkeys!!!).

Well I am thrilled that it is the New Year-lots of changes in store for me this year. Off to Italy for some skiing in a couple of weeks-not to worry I will be a much better blogger this year!!!