On the Way to Jordan

Day 11: Today and the next three days I was on my own in Jerusalem. Most of my Gate 1 tour took an extension to Jordan, but I wanted to spend more time in Jerusalem so I didn’t take the extension. However, I still wanted to go to Petra, Jordan, so I took a 20–hour night/day/night tour there. Three of us, a couple from the U.K. and me, were picked up at a hotel in Jerusalem at 4:15 a.m. A young woman who left even earlier from Tel Aviv was already on the shuttle van. We drove through many, many miles of the Negev Desert. Photo: sun rising in the Negev Desert about 6:30 a.m.

Negev Desert

We drove through miles and miles of the Negev Desert. Its colors were beautiful. We made two rest stops on the way to the border between Israel and Jordan, one while it was still dark. It took us about 4 1/2 hours to reach the border.

Negev Desert

The colors of the desert kept changing.

Negev Desert

Now we are driving through a multicolored desert.

Israel-Jordan Border Crossing

We made it to the Yitzhak Rabin/Wadi Araba Border Crossing between Israel and Jordan.

Israel-Jordan Border Crossing

We were left off at the border––the ride from Israel to Jordan is really a shuttle service. We started our walk through the border. We had already paid our driver $60 U.S. for border fees so all we had to do was to go through two security and two immigration lines.

To Jordan

There were quite a number of signs directing us to Jordan.

In Jordan

We made it to Jordan. At the Jordanian border, we had to wait awhile for other people to arrive for the tour. We had over 20 on it from different places in the world: Guatemala, Mexico, Austria, Brazil, U.K., Russia, Slovakia, Hong Kong, and another woman from the United States.

King Abdullah I

Near the end of our walk to reach our Jordan transportation was a huge photo of King Abdullah I, the king of Jordan.

Jordanian Guide

We met our Jordanian guide. There were too many of us to fit into our small bus so some people had to ride in a van. Our guide had to go from our bus to the van and back so everyone would be able to hear what he had to tell us. He was very good humored. But who should get off to go on the van? He tried various combinations of people, but no one moved. Finally, he said it would have to be the Russians and they got off. There were three young Russians on the tour but each was traveling separately, but they quickly hooked up with each other. One of girl’s English was not very good, so it was especially nice for her.

Aqaba

We passed by the border city of Aqaba which is on the Red Sea.

Aqaba

There is a mosque at the right of the photo. We saw a number of mosques on our way to Petra. Sunni Islam is the dominant religion in Jordan, with Muslims making up about 95% of the population. Some Muslims are Shiites or Ahmadi Muslims. The state religion is Islam and the king must be Muslim.

Jordanian Desert

We drove through miles and miles of the Jordanian Desert on the way to Petra. It took us about two hours to reach Petra.

Jordanian Desert

More of the Jordanian Desert.

Souvenir Store

Before going to Petra, we stopped at this bazaar that had “the third best view in the world.” I didn’t find out what the first two are.

The Third Best View

The view. At first, it reminds you of the Grand Canyon.

Wadi Musa

A view of Wadi Musa, the town closest to the Petra Archaeological Site.

I have put my photos of our trip from Jerusalem to Petra on this website. Go to https://www.peggysphotos.com/jerusalem–israel–to–petra–jordan/ (Slide Shows, Middle East, Israel/West Bank/Jordan, “Jerusalem, Israel to Petra, Jordan”).

Petra

We drove from the souvenir store to Petra. Petra was established by the Nabataeans, an Arab people, in the 3rd century BC. They carved palaces, tombs, storerooms, etc., from the soft clifts. Later, the Romans, Byzantines, and Crusaders were at Petra. Photo: Map of the Petra Archeological Site. To see all of the site will take time and a lot of walking and climbing. However, you can also ride on a horse cart, a donkey, camel, or a horse to see a lot of it.

Horse and Carriage

The walk down to the Treasury is 1 mile (1.6 km). It slops downward but the path has many large stones on it. Or you could take a horse and carriage down to the Treasury, which I did. The carriage ride was very bumpy and it was hard to take photos. For photos, walking is better.

The Pathway

People walking down the path.

Along the Path

There are very interesting rock formations on the way.

Rock Formations

More rock formations.

Rock Formations

Further along.

The Siq

We came out through the Siq, a narrow passageway that leads to the Treasury area.

Treasury Area

There is a large area around the Treasury filled with tourists, vendors, horse carts, donkeys, and camels.

Treasury

The Treasury. It is believed that it was a temple.

Camels

These camels in front of the Treasury are for you to take on photo on. There are other camels that you can ride here.

Outer Siq

From the Treasury area to the Theatre is the Outer Siq. I started to walk down but was accosted by donkey drivers who insisted that I ride a donkey down. They were experts on putting people on donkeys so I found myself on the back of a donkey. This makes it even for me: two rides on a camel, two rides on the back of an elephant, and now two rides on a donkey. That’s it!

Street of Facades

We came to the Street of Facades with tombs on both sides of the path. Past the Street of Facades is the Theatre. Past the Theatre is more walking and some climbing to the Monastery, the old city of Petra, and some other sites. However, my nerves gave out and I asked my donkey driver to go back. The driver was holding on to me while making noises to the donkey to keep it calm. I think that frightened me and I kept thinking I was going to fall off the donkey. It was a better feeling going up the incline than going down it.

Donkey and Souvenirs

On the way back to the Treasury area, we stopped at a souvenir store with me still on the donkey. I bought a bracelet as a souvenir.

Horse Carriage and Driver

A photo of my carriage and horse and driver.

My Mom’s Recipe Restaurant

My tour group met at near the ticket booth and then went to eat a buffet lunch at 4 p.m. at My Mom’s Recipe Restaurant.

Wadi Musa

Saying goodbye to Wadi Musa and Petra.

I have put my photos of Petra on a slideshow. Go to https://www.peggysphotos.com/petra–jordan/ (Slide Shows, Israel/West Bank/Jordan, “Petra, Jordan”).

Going Back to Jerusalem

We started back to the border and to Jerusalem, but two young women were staying overnight in a Bedouin tent. They could go back to the border the next day. There are other options to spend more time in Petra. It was soon sunset on our ride back. Our bus let us off at the border and after going through immigration and security the four of us original passengers on our van plus now a man from Italy started back. I was let off in Jerusalem at my hotel, at which I arrived at 12 midnight. I didn’t know at the time that my trip to Petra made me complete the New Seven Wonders of the World: The Great Wall of China (been there), Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro (been there), Machu Picchu (been there), Chichen Itza, Yucatan Peninsula Mexico (been there twice), Roman Colosseum, Rome (been there twice), Taj Mahal (been there), and Petra, Jordan––my very last one and so glad that I made it there!