33 Weeks

The bump got decorated this week:

Finally, PETRA!

The second day of our 3 day tour with Wajdi (the driver) landed us in probably the most famous place in Jordan - Petra.  It was chosen in 2007 as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, and it definitely lives up to that designation. It is an entire city, carved into solid rock, that was first built and inhabited about 2000 years ago. We had to wake up pretty early to get a good start on the day, and we weren't really sure what to expect, but both of us were blown away with the place. Truly amazing! 

One of the first things you see, a huge tomb, during the walk into Petra. 

Standing at the beginning of the Siq - the only way in or out of Petra. 

The Siq is a deep canyon that is about a kilometer long. Being the only way in, this is how the Nabateans who first lived in Petra were able to protect themselves from intruders.

One option to enter is by taking a ride on one of these rickety horse carriages. The ride was looking WAY too bumpy for me, so we just walked. 

One you get through the Siq, the first site you see if the Treasury. It is probably the most famous of all the ruins. This entire building was carved straight into the sandstone of the canyon. It is hard to describe how impressive a sight it was! 

Also...I got to meet the author of a book I just read while we were there, Marguerite van Geldermalsen. She was married to one of the bedouins who inhabited Petra more recently (They got married in the 70's). She wrote a crazy book about her experiences called Married to a Bedouin. She still lives in Jordan and keeps a shop in the canyon! 

Mount Nebo, Madaba Mosaics, and a Castle

On Day 3 of our trip, Pete and I were picked up by a driver in a sweet Mercedes to go on a guided tour for the next three days.  Our first stop with our driver (Wajdi) was Mount Nebo - where Moses was given a view of the promised land that God was giving to the Israelites. It is also thought that Moses was buried in the area. The weather for our journey was absolutely perfect, and it was so nice to be away from the sweltering heat of Abu Dhabi.

Jordan is second in the world for producing mosaics (after Italy).

An Italian artist was commissioned to produce a sculpture for the summit of Mount Nebo. The result was this piece based on the biblical story of how Moses supposedly turned a snake into a staff.

The overpriced tourist-trap mosaic shop in Madaba. There is a foundation in Jordan that was started by the Queen to employ handicapped women in the country. The women work a max of 4 hours a day producing some pretty amazing mosaics. Unfortunately, they are sold for wayyyy too much! (We were able to get a deal on 2 when we went back to Amman)

We also stopped at Kerak Castle, which was built during the time of the Crusades. It is pretty huge and impressive, but it was insanely windy when we were there, and Pete and I realized that maybe we're not the best tourists when it comes to visiting old ruins. (This staircase led to a doorway that was a total dropoff with no guard rail or anything - probably wouldn't see that at home!) 

Every place we stopped had tourist police. We're not really sure exactly what their job is, but I guess they must be necessary. 

Yum!

This guy is making Jordanian bread called shraak. It is reeeally thin and stretchy and delicious.

More fresh, tasty bread!

The butcher shop next to the bakery. 

Roman Ruins at Jerash

Just north of Amman, Jordan is the city of Jerash. We headed there for a visit on Day 3 of our trip. Neither Pete or I had ever been to see ruins such as this, so it was pretty cool...but the annoying wind and dust kind of made us ready to go home after only being there a short time!

Amphitheater where they STILL have shows (I wish I could go to one)

Did not expect to see bagpipers in Jordan

Sitting on the steps of the amphitheater

Roman columns and Pete

The old road going through the city. There were ruts where the carts used to go down the road and manholes too! 

Buoyancy

After we visited the baptism site, we headed towards the Dead Sea. We checked in for the day at the Holiday Inn...

Then we headed down to the beach to cover ourselves in Dead Sea MUD!

Pete and Waleed floated out to wash it all off. 

I enjoyed feeling weightless for a bit. You float so much that you can't even put your feet down to touch the bottom - the water just bobs you right back up! It is a very strange feeling.

Pete had fun taking pics of the bump. 

Apparently, the thing to do is to bring a magazine and take pics of yourself reading it while being held up by the water. We didn't bring one, so I just took a pic of someone else doing it. :-)

I saw this funny sign by the bathrooms at the Holiday Inn...reminded me of the things I have to look forward to.

Where Cheesus Was Baptized

Waking up in Jordan on Day 2, we prepared for a day trip to the Baptism Site of Jesus (or, as our guide pronounced it: "Cheesus") and then to the Dead Sea.  The baptism site is on the Jordan River, which runs along the border of Israel and Jordan. There was a lot of military presence in the area. Apparently, it was only opened to the public in the last few years because they didn't even want people visiting the area! Now there are several different churches under construction on the Jordan side of the river for those visiting this Holy Site.

The baptism site is right at the bottom of those stairs behind me...

A mosaic map detailing the area.

Pete and I in front of one of the churches. 

Pete found some kittens in one of the gift shops - much to his dismay we had to leave this little guy there. 

Welcome to Jordan

We arrived in Jordan last Friday and were greeted by gorgeous weather and a nice change of scenery.

We stopped on the highway to buy some freshly picked chickpeas from these young lads. 

Green! Trees! Hillsides! Really...amazing.

We stayed the first few nights at Ayyoub household (the family of one of Pete's coworkers). One of the son's showed of his oud-playing skills. 

I Scream...

You scream, we all scream, for ICE CREAM!!!
There is an ice cream man in our neighborhood now - just in time for the sweltering heat of summer.  The kids even run and chase after it, just like they do at home! Soon enough, I'm gonna have to go inside to eat my ice cream, or risk having it melt down my arm in 3.7 seconds.