We got up early this morning so that we could enjoy walking through The Siq and see the Treasury in the morning light. Less people too. It was a pleasant morning except that we were too early to see the Treasury in full light so we spent a lot of time sitting around waiting for that to happen. Not a problem though. We had a full day of hiking ahead of us and the rest was good.
We did several climbing hikes today. This area is a lot like the Grand Canyon and the terrain is all up and down. The first hike lead to the High Place of Sacrifice where the Nabateans did, obviously, sacrifices. The view was amazing and we were awed by the number of tombs up in the hills. From there we did a different hike back and it was exhausting. There were not many people on the trails and in one area we were the only ones at an ancient banquet hall and tomb. There were columns lying on the ground and crumbling walls around us. It was like we were the first to discover a forgotten city. I'm sure some day it will be excavated better and perhaps have facilities for tourists, but for now it was just us and history. Amazing. Overall only 20% of Petra has been "found."
Once we reached the bottom, we had a leisurely lunch of the food we had been packing around all morning. Steve and I then took a short hike up to see some Byzantine mosaics (amazing!) and then gathered the kids for a hike up to the Monastary. Bribery was involved. It was something like 900 steps up and what wasn't steps was sand. Very, very difficult. From the bottom you could see the people who were further up already and when we got further up we could see those coming behind. It reminded me of a pilgrimage. Everyone just climbing and resting with one goal: to make it to the top. The scenery was beautiful, as everything we have seen in Jordan is.
After a few false hopes, we finally did make it up and collapsed on a bench to take it all in and pay off the bribes. (Swiss Cakes-their favorite treat in Jordan) Steve and I left the kids and the bags on a bench and ventured up a little higher to see the other side of the mountain, which offered a spectacular view of the canyons and the Negev desert beyond.
When Steve and I came down from the view we found out that there had been a little trouble with the kids. Apparently some local boys had kicked down Cora's sand castle and said curse words to them. Tate and Cora ignored them at first (not to worry--this is a very touristy area and there were many people around who could have helped if really needed) but then the kids started throwing pebbles. Apparently Tate and Cora took turns yelling back at them and chasing them off. As they said, "We had to take turns so someone could stay with the bags." As Steve and I were coming down we heard a Bedouin boy getting yelled at by his mother but didn't think anything of it. Apparently the boys had been caught (their sister told me this ) and were punished. All and all, quite an exciting moment for Tate and Cora and it occupied them for quite a bit of the climb down as they recounted their heroics to each other. I bet this is something they will remember and talk about for many years.
Speaking of the climb down, it was easier than going up but still exhausting; and once we reached the bottom we still had to walk uphill all the way to the entry gate. At least 2 miles. It took the promise of pizza for dinner to keep the complaints down and do the long walk back. They did great, we had the pizza for dinner and everyone is settling in for the night now.
Tomorrow we leave Jordan and cross into Israel. Overall, what we saw of Jordan was breathtaking. The stunning natural beauty and the amazing accomplishments of Petra cannot be put into words. We are very glad we made the trek here.
We did several climbing hikes today. This area is a lot like the Grand Canyon and the terrain is all up and down. The first hike lead to the High Place of Sacrifice where the Nabateans did, obviously, sacrifices. The view was amazing and we were awed by the number of tombs up in the hills. From there we did a different hike back and it was exhausting. There were not many people on the trails and in one area we were the only ones at an ancient banquet hall and tomb. There were columns lying on the ground and crumbling walls around us. It was like we were the first to discover a forgotten city. I'm sure some day it will be excavated better and perhaps have facilities for tourists, but for now it was just us and history. Amazing. Overall only 20% of Petra has been "found."
Once we reached the bottom, we had a leisurely lunch of the food we had been packing around all morning. Steve and I then took a short hike up to see some Byzantine mosaics (amazing!) and then gathered the kids for a hike up to the Monastary. Bribery was involved. It was something like 900 steps up and what wasn't steps was sand. Very, very difficult. From the bottom you could see the people who were further up already and when we got further up we could see those coming behind. It reminded me of a pilgrimage. Everyone just climbing and resting with one goal: to make it to the top. The scenery was beautiful, as everything we have seen in Jordan is.
After a few false hopes, we finally did make it up and collapsed on a bench to take it all in and pay off the bribes. (Swiss Cakes-their favorite treat in Jordan) Steve and I left the kids and the bags on a bench and ventured up a little higher to see the other side of the mountain, which offered a spectacular view of the canyons and the Negev desert beyond.
When Steve and I came down from the view we found out that there had been a little trouble with the kids. Apparently some local boys had kicked down Cora's sand castle and said curse words to them. Tate and Cora ignored them at first (not to worry--this is a very touristy area and there were many people around who could have helped if really needed) but then the kids started throwing pebbles. Apparently Tate and Cora took turns yelling back at them and chasing them off. As they said, "We had to take turns so someone could stay with the bags." As Steve and I were coming down we heard a Bedouin boy getting yelled at by his mother but didn't think anything of it. Apparently the boys had been caught (their sister told me this ) and were punished. All and all, quite an exciting moment for Tate and Cora and it occupied them for quite a bit of the climb down as they recounted their heroics to each other. I bet this is something they will remember and talk about for many years.
Speaking of the climb down, it was easier than going up but still exhausting; and once we reached the bottom we still had to walk uphill all the way to the entry gate. At least 2 miles. It took the promise of pizza for dinner to keep the complaints down and do the long walk back. They did great, we had the pizza for dinner and everyone is settling in for the night now.
Tomorrow we leave Jordan and cross into Israel. Overall, what we saw of Jordan was breathtaking. The stunning natural beauty and the amazing accomplishments of Petra cannot be put into words. We are very glad we made the trek here.
Comments
Sounds like lots of climbing. I can't even imagine what 900 stair steps would look like....
Love,
P&G
Teri