Jordan

When we entered Jordan, it appeared like I had previously expected Israel to look. Dirt and sand as far as the eyes can see. Men with machine guns were stationed every few miles. There were poor bedoins living in tents in the desert, tending sheep, goats and camels.

One of our first stops in Jordan was Mt. Nebo. This is the mountain on which Moses died. They have erected a large monument (a rod with a snake wrapped around it) in his honor. Check out Deuteronomy 34 and Numbers 21:4 as references to this spot.

Soon after, we grabbed a quick lunch and then went to the Greek Orthodox church that houses the mosaic of the Holy Land on the floor. Though most of it was destroyed in an earthquake, the part you could see was quite impressive.

Probably one of my favorite sites the whole trip was PETRA-JORDAN! You Indiana Jones fans out there have no idea how beautiful this place is when it stands before your eyes. It was probably almost 90 degrees this day, but I didn't care. You are an ant within these massive cliffs that the Nabotese (spelling?) people once made their town. You can still see royal tombs that are carved into the cliffs and remnants of idols to their god. I tripped numerous times because my eyes were always looking up and my mouth was always open in awe. I found myself instinctively whispering, "Wow" over and over. For someone who is hardly ever short on words, "Wow" is all that I said for most of the tour. Many of the cliffs boasted bright colors-- reds and oranges and yellows--from the minerals within their composition. You travel this journey to get to Petra's prized possession. You first see a small glimpse of it from a narrow gap where the two cliffs almost meet. You start to get more and more excited until suddenly you see it in its entirety: THE TREASURY! My "Wow" turned to a full-out "Woooooooow" as I witnessed the intricate creation of this ancient people. This building would have been a masterpiece had it been created on land-- but carved out of a giant rock? That is too much for me to fathom. They recently found another layer that was buried beneath the surface. I can't wait to show you pictures!

I also climbed up and looked in the royal tombs, which were equally as intricate and carefully constructed. They even had a theater carved into the side of the mountain. I wish I could go back in time and witness their way of life. Not only was Petra beautiful, but the people and way of life added to its unique beauty. The bedoin people make their own jewelry and sell it within the caves-- I bought a necklace. They sell donkey rides (Mandy almost got trampled by a few of them at one point). I bought a rababa instrument for Dad, but it is already falling apart. It is the thought that counts, right? I'll try to superglue it for you, Pops! :-)

I think Petra was such a great addition to the trip and I hope they keep it as part of the trip for future HUG generations.

Stay tuned for more updates.