Petra

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“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller.

As I mentioned in the last blog, Petra is the famous monument recognizable from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. But looking at the picture I'm sure you knew that. We drove to the Jordanian border, paid our Israeli exit tax, and negotiated a taxi ride for the three hours to and from Petra. Sydney sat up front out of habit.
"You want be my friend?" He asked her. "Uh...sure." Apparently friend to him meant having free access to caressing her leg. But she put a stop to that ASAP. Once in Petra city, we found the site, realized the exchange rate was terrible and that the only ATM wasn't within walking distance, hired another cab to take us the ATM and back, and bought our tickets. I thought the site would be right there after the entrance, but really you have to walk 40 minutes through a Moab-esque slot canyon to get to it. Immediately we were hounded by 'taxi' drivers offering us rides on horseback. “Your money goes to help out the third world country of Jordan,” he said. 'Since when is Jordan a third world country?' We asked ourselves. 'And why is he charging $30?' We enjoyed the walk, however, because it was chalk full of various carvings in the rock walls, from statues to facades as grand as Petra's main site. I thought it was the one thing, but there's amphitheaters and dwellings for a whole city as well as days worth of hiking. I wish we planned more time for it. On the way back I insisted on sitting up front, but that didn't stop him from grabbing my chin. It was very strange.


***TIPS FOR TRAVELERS***

- The only ATM is in the center of the Petra City. There isn't one at the Elat crossing. Ask your driver to stop at the ATM beforehand to avoid a ridiculous exchange rate where you buy the tickets.

- Don't wear flip flops or high heels. There's a lot of cobblestones.

- There's no more student discounts at Petra. I know. It blows, huh?

- Consider getting a 3 day pass instead of a 1 day. There's LOTS to see at the site.

- I wouldn't get a horse taxi. They only go part of the way and then you have to get another.

- Taxis from Israel to Petra and back shouldn't be more than 60 or 70 Jordanian Dinars. You have to haggle down to this price and then they expect a tip on top.

😱

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Photos

Fire Rainbow
Petra

Comments

[Sydney]

inappropriate
Don't forget the cab driver also trying to hold your hand, Kev. Might you also consider changing the last picture with Ammi to also be entitled "slot canyon"? Sorry, been hanging out with my dad too much! :)

[Jeffrey]

Aye que viva la vida!
Aye Ole!! This pictures are remarkable, and your words, unmistakably illuminated. Have you seen Lebanon yet? I adore Khalil Gibran!! Saludos amados de yo Flamenco! Jeffrey.