Petra

Tuesday, May 22

This 3rd century Nabotean city is a wonder to behold. You might remember it from the third Indiana Jones movie. It is a dramatic place. We entered from a narrow canyon (Sook) This is a mile long entry way that would be easy to defend. At the end of the sook, one turns the corner to behold the first and perhaps most impressive of hundreds of monumental tombs carved right into the rock. As Max tells it, "the Naboteans started out as desert pirates but situated along the caravan routes, decided that the Howard Johnson's business made more sense." The rock formations here are astounding and the imprint placed on them by their Roman era inhabitants leaves ones jaw dropped throughout the day. We hiked about 9 miles over the whole day. It was a great work out. We climbed two peaks. This first to a temple complex that looked across to the tomb of Aaron and the second which openned into a huge monument (another Max suprise) called by locals, the monastary because of its secluded location. From there we walked even higher to an astounding view across the mountains that arose from the continental divide that follows the line along the Jordan river. Max's recurring quotation certainly fit today, "I wouldn't bring you to a nothing place!"