On Friday, which is a "day off" in Jordan, we made plans for all 9 of us (the volunteers, Tine Banda, the two videographers from the Home Office and myself) to make the 3 hour trip to southern Jordan to visit Petra.We were able to secure a very nice mini-bus (which was gratis from the tour operator that assists Cory Erickson for the Feast in Amman) and left the flats by 6:30am. It is an interesting drive, as you soon leave the environs of Amman and find yourself on the main North/South highway in Jordan traveling through what is, barren desert hills. An occasional small town or village, but pretty desolate otherwise!
We arrived at Petra about 10am and after getting our gear together, proceeded to get our tickets and take the 1/2 mile to the sique (the very narrow opening into Petra) and the additional 1/2 mile through the sique. We were able to get a grou
p picture at a very famous location (Indiana Jones officiandos will remember this!) as the sique opens up into the first major site in Petra--The Treasury.
p picture at a very famous location (Indiana Jones officiandos will remember this!) as the sique opens up into the first major site in Petra--The Treasury.After some talking and looking at the camels and tourists, and eating at early lunch (on the porch of the Treasury...can you imagine that!) we decided to divide into two groups. One group took the longer hike up to the Monestary--a high location carved out of rock about 4 kilometers away. The others of us who had been there in the past, took the shorter but steeper hike up around the Royal To
mbs to the top of the mountains above the Sique looking down the Treasury. It was a very steep walk in the middle of the day (in the 90's); however, Jamie Franks, Kelly Schreiber, Tine Banda and myself made it to the top. Tine used the assistance of a horse as well to get up! The view was amazing. We hiked back down and eventually met the rest of our group and headed back to Amman about 4pm. We ended the evening by stopping at a local haunt--famous for take-away middle eastern food. We did as much and enjoyed the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets with shwarma, kebab, turk salad, tabbouleh, pita, and hummus. Tomorrow we look forward to a wonderful holyday together.
~Doug Horchak
mbs to the top of the mountains above the Sique looking down the Treasury. It was a very steep walk in the middle of the day (in the 90's); however, Jamie Franks, Kelly Schreiber, Tine Banda and myself made it to the top. Tine used the assistance of a horse as well to get up! The view was amazing. We hiked back down and eventually met the rest of our group and headed back to Amman about 4pm. We ended the evening by stopping at a local haunt--famous for take-away middle eastern food. We did as much and enjoyed the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets with shwarma, kebab, turk salad, tabbouleh, pita, and hummus. Tomorrow we look forward to a wonderful holyday together.~Doug Horchak
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