Road Trip: Viva Las Jordan, Part II

My favorite #1: Petra, Jordan (continued)

As mentioned in the previous post, Petra was not like I had imagined it.  I imagined that to get there, one would have to travel on unpaved, rocky roads....in my little, small imaginative world, we would be bumping along in a safari-type vehicle with bugs and dust flying up in our faces.  We would pass ravenous wolves and giant scorpions.  For miles, high up into the desert hills we would travel.  Until finally, there would be a small opening in a desert, rocky mountain.  There, we would have to hike, to find this illusive "Petra".  We would have to hike all day, in the hot sun (without food and barely enough water to survive.....okay, not really....).  We, of course, would be the only ones there.  No others would be brave enough to dare to climb to the illusive "Petra".

Alas, yet again, like every other experience here in the Middle East, I was 100% wrong.  The drive to get to Petra was so beautiful!  We travelled in a normal, non-safari vehicle.  We passed through the Aqaba Mountains and small towns and villages.  All the roads we took were paved.  There were no visible wolves, only camels, goats and sheep.  The landscape was breathtaking. 

To get to Petra we had to go through its gateway: Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses or Moses Valley).  Wadi Musa is said to be the place where Moses asked God for water. God instructed Moses to strike a rock (in Exodus 17) with his staff.  Moses obeyed, stuck the rock, and fresh water flowed out.  This (said place of) sweet water still flows today!  I saw it and drank it right out of the flowing spring.  Below are picture of the drive to Petra and of Wadi Musa:

 The picture directly above is Wadi Musa. Although it is in the middle of the desert, it is green because of Moses' Spring.

Petra is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and it is quite amazing. There is an entrance fee to get into the Park/Reserve (not illusive, nor is it a small opening in a desert, rocky mountain).  There is a dusty walking path that started the journey, not alone, but with about nine thousand other visitors.  My dramatic tale is foiled, yet again. While it was totally blistering hot, we had uncharacteristically "mild hotness", a great blessing! Here are a few more shots from the day:

  And, because no album is complete without some of these, here you go:

 The special, magically powered Petra Unicorn Police

Headline News for Petra, June 7th, 2014:

Today, tragedy befell a visiting family when the perfect picture was ruined by random photo bomber

 When you can't go another step, White Stallion can take you all the way back to the entrance! What the picture doesn't capture is the horse passing loud and smelly gas, also all the way back to the entrance.  Mama J, and S, B, and M smile to hide their pain.

 By the facial expression, I'm sure you can imagine who's idea it was to bare our tough biceps. Why it's necessary to do so for a hiking picture is really questionable.  Regardless, now for all time, let this be known: back off special, magical Petra Unicorn Police! We both have left biceps!

Thoughts on this picture:

1. If you ever wondered if Muslim women are boiling hot in their cultural dress, I can confirm your wonderings. Yes.

2. Plaid pink & black are not traditional colors. There may possibly be a slight influence from western styles.

3. If you know how tall I am, then you'll know that my Jordanian buddy is

 only about  5' 1".

Directions to ruin someone's perfect sunset picture.

Step One: Randomly jump in front of the camera and do this.

Step Two: That's all it will take.

The End.

 

To be continued....more to come in Part III