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Published: June 23rd 2012
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The name itself conjures up images of the exotic, mystery, Bedouin's and Indiana jones. I am not afraid to admit that Petra first came on my radar after the Last Crusade!
Petra is a huge, huge complex and you could spend a couple days hiking around the site, though most tourists stick to the main road, which is good as well. The most common image you've probably seen of petra is that of the treasury, though trust me, there is so much more. Roman and nabaaeten tombs, sacrificial altars, a huge carved lion on the side of a hill, etc. It has only been thirty years or so since people were moved out of those very caves, to clear the way for the tourists. However, there are still a couple of families that do still live in the caves and I met one of those young men. Incredibly kind, he showed me around and didn't expect a tip or anything from me, he was just kind. We found the bluest lizard ive ever seen, broke some rocks, talked about life and had a great time. I will always remember him, and a few others from this country. I will most
likely always remember feeling like i had Petra to myself because it was so quiet hiking around the back of the treasury, off the main track. It was so quiet, and then out of nowhere I see a young man with a fedora, riding a donkey, with a Bob Marley song on his radio. Camels and horses are all over Petra, and locals will wait outside the museum saying "taxi", air conditioning, Ferrari. I figure the time for riding a horse and such is later, not in the middle of Petra. A mule hoof print on my face can wait! Oh and further proof that all in life does in fact in one way or the other relate to star wars, three or four camels came rushing by and I swear they look like smaller versioned at-ats! The articulation of their knees, the shape of their bodies, they are in fact real life at-ats. The men here sare extremely accommodating, and though they do flirt, they are usually very respectful of your space. It is new for me, to be here and to be treated like a desert queen. Like I'm something special, you know? Because the men are so
kind and respectful, when that one in a thousand men molests you it is quite upsetting.In all my travels these last couple of months, ive had only one upsetting experience. A shop owner got fresh with me, and instead of a punch in the face, I just turned and walked away, though I karate chopped him in my head - hiyaaaaaaa! Petra, despite the constant, constant bombardment of sales pitches, is absolutely worth the visit. But if you can't make it out there, really you can have a good time just riding a horse out in the desert with a Bedouin guide. You will see Bedouin goat herders living on the land, camels and donkeys and beautiful rock formations. If you had gone today you would have seen me, sitting a top a grey horse with an oh-shit look to my eyes! It was a good trip though with good company.
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patti dohoney
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TRIP
YOU ARE ONE BRAVE GIRL. I LOVE YOU.