Jordan - Petra

This trip we have encountered a variety in our modes of transportation. Besides the usual airplane and bus we have ridden in Falukas (boats), in trains, on camels and today I rode a horse and a donkey. We went to one of the wonders of the world: Petra, Jordan. It was absolutely indescribably amazing! Giant monastery facades cut out of the rocks. Inhabited by the ancient Nabataeans and then later by local bedoin communities, these tombs at Petra were amazing. We walked through gorgeous rock formations that were similar to southern Utah and arrived at what they call the treasury.

Longer walks led us passed dozens more houses and tombs up in the cliffs cut out of the rock.

After a lot of negotiations and sneaky salesman I mounted a donkey which took me up a thirty minute steep hill climb. I squealed as I usually do when confronted in new risky situations but quickly gained confidence in my transport. This animal was tough. The mountain was rocky but he trudged straight up. About half way up, my saddle was slipping and I panicked as I tried to communicate this difficulty to the seven year old boy who walked along side the donkey but other than that – I felt like a pro. I kept looking around me in amazement. I am in Jordan on a donkey. I repeated this thought as we rode horse back to the entrance (it is much easier to ponder when you aren’t worrying about falling off a cliff)

FUNNY STORY: During our negotiations for the donkeys we encountered more difficulties than expected. Aside from them raising their prices AFTER we had mounted, we were also restricted (by our leaders) from riding the mules. Being uneducated in the differences between these two beasts, we would ask repeatedly “Is this one a donkey?” One young boy asked my roommate, “HOW long have you been in school?” She replied “about fifteen years”. In surprise, he said, “you’ve been in school for fifteen years and you never learned the difference between a donkey and a mule?!”
We explored in tombs and climbed up unknown pathways to discover newer, higher pathways. We had entirely too little time for all the possibilities, but it was fun even so. Indiana Jones fans will recall that movie #3 was filmed on location here. I really regret not having downloaded the theme song and playing in on my Ipod during my adventures today. Dun dun dun dun . . . dun dun dun . . . . it played in my head even so.

Ever wonder where camels get the water to drink from while they are in the hot desert? The same way we do . . . check the video out