Spring Break Trip: Chapter 4: PETRA (part 1)

After crossing all the borders, we were in Aquaba, Jordan and had about a 2 hour drive to Petra. We didn't have a very detailed road map, and the Jordanian arabic proved to be a little bit too different from the Egyptian version, but luckily, Jordan has good road signs. It was nice to be in a place with good, clear road signs again:)

The sunset drive along the high mountain road that wound around to the town above Petra, Wadi Mousa, was breathtaking. It reminded me of driving along Skyline drive in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, but a lot less green:) It was only 48 degrees (COLD for here!) and the air was crisp and clean. The mountains were rugged against the colored sky and the sun dropped like a huge ball of fire below the horizon .

We finally found our budget hotel, with the aid of a taxi cab to guide us. Brent went in to check it out while we waited in the car. It was fine: clean, no bugs, hot water and looked over the valley that led down into Petra. After a long day, we all went to bed at 7:30pm.

March 31st, we awoke at 6am and ate a quick middle eastern breakfast before heading into Petra. (see below for description of middle eastern/Egyptian breakfast) It was perfect weather----chilly in the morning and comfortable with a cool breeze in the afternoon. We walked A LOT....we were in Petra for about 8 1/2 hours and we walked a solid 6 of those! Considering Elisabeth was still recovering from stomach flu, the kids did very well. Emma and Sarah walked pretty much the whole way and Rebekah and Josh helped them a lot, while Brent and I took turns helping Elisabeth. One funny thing: there were a lot of men trying to sell donkey rides to tourists. They would ask us a lot (because of all the kids) but when they saw Brent carrying Elisabeth/Emma/Sarah on his back, they would point to him and say, "Laa, burro. Enta burro!" Roughly that means no burro because you are the burro:)

All of our family agrees that it was one of the best things we have ever seen and done together.

***typical hotel version of the Egyptian/middle eastern breakfast:

usually consists of plain yogurt, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, baladi bread, buns, some toast bread, boiled eggs, cut up hotdogs, strong cheese, a salami-like meat, tea and coffee, and some super sweet juice. There can also be hummus and pickled egg plant/vegetables. I usually had plain yogurt mixed with tomatoes and cukes, hard boiled eggs and a side of toast with fig jelly. We are getting used to having vegetables for breakfast more.