(Day 3 - 3/7) Petra

The Red Rose Rock City of Petra

Built by the Nabateans in the land of the Edomites 

An 8:00a.m. departure from our hotel started our day's adventure as we headed 3.5+ hours South to a place

built in 169BC, Petra in Jordan.  Jordan's population is 6 million with 37 public and private universities.  The country is small with 12 cities in 58,000 square miles.  The average monthly income is between $400 and $1,500.  In addition to tourism, other industries include wheat, olive and almond trees.  

The northern part of Jordan is rich and green while the further south we traveled the more rocky desert it became.  En route, a buying opportunity for Nabatean glass, orchid eggs, books, china and all in between, presented itself at the Petra Tours and Complex.  Back to flat land, rock and nature after shopping, we stopped on the roadside for photos of mama and baby camels. 

Our travels continued with a quick photo opportunity at Montreal Castle which was built by the Crusaders in 1114.  Finally, the highlight of our day was entering the lost land of Petra that had been rediscovered in 1812.  Today, our group from Hayes Barton United Methodist rediscovered this chosen one of the 7 World Wonders again in 2014!  Some hiked to the top of the Monastery of this archaeological treasurer while other meandered through the gorge to the breathtaking Treasury.  At the end of the quite memorable day, we boarded the bus for our return to the hotel.  As Mary June's daily devotion said this morning, "WOWs don't stop here but will continue upon our return home.  Love from Petra as we continue on this journey together.  

Jan Woodard