Road tripping through Israel with my parents and my older sister has been an interesting experience. Despite being a few weeks shy of 25 and my sister being 27, we still know how to push eachothers buttons in a way that merits our parents screaming at us from the front seat. I thought we'd all grown out of this, but apparently I was mistaken. I find myself saying, "But Vanessa started it," way too much. It's a little unsettling, actually. This and the fact that everyone in Israel think I'm 18 has led me to think that the only thing that will make me feel like an adult would be to move to the other side of the country and get a real job.
Crossing the border from Israel into Jordan was quite an experience. Here Vanessa and I are waiting for our visa clearance into Jordan. This is my new hair cut.
Petra was AMAZING. I highly recommend going. To be honest, I really like Jordan as a whole and I hope to go back after a few arabic classes. Petra is about 44 square kilometres. We had to hike about 2.7 km into the city through these amazing cliffs. It was quite breathtaking when lille horse-drawn buggies weren't flying by full of bedouins hellbent on running us over and tourists with looks of panic glued to their faces. My dad is probably one of the biggest geology dorks I have ever met and he was basically in heaven. For my dad, Petra was a geological dream.
This is the first facade you see coming into Petra. It was pretty incredible. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a younger Harrison Ford with the fedora and the bullwhip.
Against my will, the Jordanian tour guide (who didn't like that I was way too out-spoken) grabbed me and dressed me up. I think the store owner really hated me. First off, I put up a fuss about having to get dressed up in his store(I don't like being touched or dressed by strange men--weird I know) and second I gave him a really hard time about the prices. My israeliness was at a peak here.
This is the first facade you see coming into Petra. It was pretty incredible. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a younger Harrison Ford with the fedora and the bullwhip.
Against my will, the Jordanian tour guide (who didn't like that I was way too out-spoken) grabbed me and dressed me up. I think the store owner really hated me. First off, I put up a fuss about having to get dressed up in his store(I don't like being touched or dressed by strange men--weird I know) and second I gave him a really hard time about the prices. My israeliness was at a peak here. Me: 12 dinar? Are you kidding me? Look at that little stain. And that one too.
Him: Fine. Go get another scarf.
Me: But I like this one and it's the only one you have.
Him: Fine. 10 dinar.
Me: And what about this bracelet?
Him: 6 dinar.
(the guide mumbles something to him in arabic)
Him (now more disgruntled than before): Fine. It's free.
The guide: He's my cousin.
(while checking out)
Me: What a minute Chachi, how much are you charging me fore the scarf?
Him: 12 dinar.
Me (moving closer and pointing at him): But you said 10.
Him (losing his cool and imagining himself strangling me with the scarf): But then I gave you the bracelet for free.
Me: But you said 10. Are you going back on your word, friend?
Him: Fine, 10.
Here are some bedouins on camels riding through Petra. Actually, up until the 1980s the bedouins lived in the rock rooms carved out of the cliff walls of the ancient city. I walked into one of the rooms and by the smell of it, I'd say I found the one they used as the restroom. I'm 95% percent sure.
Here are some bedouins on camels riding through Petra. Actually, up until the 1980s the bedouins lived in the rock rooms carved out of the cliff walls of the ancient city. I walked into one of the rooms and by the smell of it, I'd say I found the one they used as the restroom. I'm 95% percent sure. 
6 comments:
very, very cool.
are you really moving to Provo?
hahaha, I love your eyes. So mysterious and nonsexually inviting and attractive... I can't stop laughing.
i am beYOND jealous. like, petra, what?? no fair. i did watch indian jones (the second one) and it was kind of like being in petra. ok no. it wasn't. it wasn't even close. to make up for my pain i actually watched ben affleck/uma thurman in paycheck on TNT. booyah!
that's "indianA jones"
We “me and family” made a trip to Petra in Jordan in April 2007. it was a piece of art and fabulous.
We flew from Berlin to Amman- Jordan. We traveled at modern buses with a guide/driver.
Our route was Amman, Jerash, Ajloun , Petra , Dead Sea.
On the way we experienced architectural, archaeological, historical and cultural places: noble mosques, interesting museums, ancient castle, unique ruins, stone paths, the lowest point on earth with mineral salty water at Dead sea. Also we went to see how nomads live in their tents.
Before our trip we got a lot of warnings and surprising comments on Jordanians' hostility toward Westerners. Anyhow in every city, town and village we felt ourselves very welcome and every person was polite and hospitable to us.
Our guide was the best possible guide. His knowledge of Jordan, the past and the present is enormous and his driving style is convincing, A trip with him was like a trip with a friend not with a formal guide.
From my experience, liberty tourisms is one of the best tours at Jordan where all you may need and ask on one place.
Hans Herrman
My grandma sent me a really cool slide show on Petra. It looks amazing. And look at you bargaining with the locals. I need to take you to Mexico with me. Now I already know that you speak Spanish. But make that your next language you speak fluently, and then we'll travel to Cancun. Love the haircut. Love the scarf. Tell your family I said hi.
Post a Comment