HIGHLIGHTS

On one of our few afternoons of relaxation I thought I would take the time to update all those at home.  The past week has been packed full with 2 days in Dana biosphere reserve, 4 days in Wadi Musa with 3 full days of hiking in Petra and finally the past 2 days in Wadi Rum exploring the desert.  Now that we have found a hotel in Aqaba in the Southern part of Jordan just a few km from the Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabian borders we will sit, relax, wash sand out of all the kids orifices, catch up on Journals and then wander around Aqaba to see what it has to offer.  We found a hotel room right in the middle of the city center with views of the beautiful crystal blue Red Sea.  We are surrounded by local markets, souvenir shops, restaurants and everything else imaginable as well so we should be set for the next 3 days.  This is good because parking here in Jordan has no rules much like driving and I believe by looking out the window we may not be able to get the car out for 3 days.

Holding a baby goat that a sheep herder offered to me during a hike along the outskirts of Dana Village.

After leaving Dana Biosphere reserve we visited the shobak Castle that had a secret passageway made up of 375 steps down a dark tunnel out to a spring below the castle.  This took us about 25min to navigate through with headlamps and made it one of the kids and our favorite castles to explore.  The shobak castle was built by a crusader king in the year 1115 AD.

 Shobak Castle

 Nojah decided he didn't want to be the catapult loader.

 Tob making his climb out.

 Doorway climber.

Coming out of the long dark hole.  Then it was a brutal climb back up to the castle along the road.

In Petra we spent 3 full days hiking.  After adding up all the hours I think it totaled about 25 hours and even though donkeys and camels were offered for our riding pleasure we chose (tob and I, not the kids) to hike.  Structures date back as far as 7000 BC.  The Nabataeans settled in the area in the 6^th century.  By about 8 to 40BC the area grew to about 30,000 people.  In about 100AD the Romans overtook Petra and built colonnaded streets and roman baths.  In both 363 and 551 AD Earthquakes destroyed most of the city and it became a lost city known only to the Bedouin until 1812 when it was discovered by a swiss man.  It continues to be excavated and it was pretty amazing to wander through for 3 days.

 Walking along the 1km Siq (canyon)

 The treasury

 Lexy sacrificing her brother.....

 while tob and I watch from the alter.

 So many beautiful colors within the city.

 Sacrafice was unsuccessful so this was paybacks.

 The kids and I enjoying tea with a bedouin lady on our 2nd chilly morning in Petra

In wadi Musa (the town outside of Petra) Lex and I indulged in our first Turkish bath which was great fun.  Neither of us knew what to expect of course and we started with a woman attendant who took us to a steam room and said “you stay in here 20min”  Lex and I looked at each other with funny looks.  She said “I come back and check on you and if you have had enough, you have enough, ok”  We said Ok.  At the 5 min mark we were ok when she checked on us, but I think by about 7 min we were sneaking out behind the curtain for breaths of fresh air.  She finally caught us and then we were laid to rest on warm marble slabs.  We laid on the marble for about 5 or 10 min while the back of our legs burned and she came to get alexyss for her scrubbing and massage.  I rested while Lex enjoyed the scrub and massage and almost fell asleep before she came to get me.  When I entered the room she told me to take my top off (we were in swimsuits) and lay down.  She soaped me front and back, exfoliated me and then gave me a massage with some pounding and slapping.  After I was rinsed she sent me off to the cool Jacuzzi with Lex who was having the time of her life.  After a bit in there we showered and headed back to the room.  It was a fun and relaxing experience after a long 3 days in Petra.

After Petra we arranged to stay in a Bedouin camp for the night.  I would have LOVED to spend longer there but it was pretty expensive.  When we arrived in Wadi Rum Village we met Suleman our host and he took our bags by jeep to the camp while we road camels (about a 2 hour excursion).  I was good by the end of it but the kids could have lived on the camels, especially since lex adapted well and road side saddle.  We named the camels Mohammed, Mohammed, Moses, and Nojah’s was Buddy.  We relaxed in camp with Besihn (sp?) who taught Lex her Arabic numbers and us other phrases.  We played cards and did some hiking.  By late evening other guests arrived and we visited with couples and friends from Holland, England, Texas, France, and Brazil.  It’s always fun to share travel stories.  This morning we took a jeep tour with Suleman who showed us Lawrences spring, some camel inscriptions on rock he claims are 2000 years old, played on sand dunes and enjoyed the views.

 My favorite sign so far.

 Lexy and Mohammed, and Toby and Mohammed

 Nojah and buddy.

 After our trek to camp.

 Our small camp.  Each tent had 2 or 3 small mattresses on the ground and some blankets.  Very simple.

 Sunset before dinner

A view from Lawrence's spring.  (Lawrence of Arabia)

Jordan is on the top of my list for favorite countries visited and we continue to enjoy every moment we are here.  Everyone makes traveling so enjoyable and our trip is going way too fast.  Hope all is well at home!!