Saturday, November 16, 2013

Jordan: Petra 1

It's a beautiful day and we get an early start. Petra, the Nabataean rock fortress is about three hours' drive away.

The hills of Petra behind the modern city

All ten of us clamber into our rickety mini bus, along with our driver, Mohommed, a Moslem and Anton, our guide--an Arab Christian. The mosaic of beliefs and traditions can be seen best in the wide diversity of dress worn by women here. 

We're also accompanied on all our trips by a young guy in uniform and with a gun who's a member of the tourist police. Anyone asks us to pay to high a price for a souvenir, he shoots them. Not really. But he's there to help if needed.

We arrive to a great view of the modern city of Petra, population of around 14,000.

The rock formations in the deep canyons are superb. So is my new friend, the camel.