Eilat - Petra, Jordan

I took the 10 am bus from Jerusalem to Eilat which is on the tip of Israel border that is surrounded by the Red Sea, and Egypt to one side, and Jordan on the other. I am staying at the Eilat hostel which is like our YMCA back home. Very clean and efficient which includes breakfast.  I booked a one day tour to Petra and I am glad it was only a day. We started at 6:30 am in the morning and returned to the hostel at 6 pm, quite a long day.  But it was amazing (the tour was a little pricey but well worth it). I am now glad I just booked the one day as it became extremely hot (over a 110 degrees) in the afternoon and it drained me.  I walked well over 6 hours down and then back up with some shade but I think the second day would have done me in!!  The highway was pretty good and it was interesting to see herds of camels especially in the middle of the road (I am use to sheep and cows but camels were interesting!!). We pass one of the highest mountains Mt. Hur or (Hor) which is said that Aaron (Numbers 20:28) was buried there.  A little history of Petra is that the Nabataeans an ancient Arab tribe arrived in Jordan 2200 years ago.  They developed this area and became the undisputed masters in the caravaneering business. They levy tolls, protecting the caravans laden with Arabian frankincense and myrrh, Indian spices and silks, African ivory and animal hides coming through Petra. I couldn't help but feel that the 3 kings that came to visit Jesus birth came through here with their frankincense and myrrh!!  The Nabataeans developed a kingdom that stretch through to Damascus and includes parts of the Sinai and Negev deserts. They fought the Greeks, the Hasmonaeans and later the Romans. But in 106 AD, the Romans took over and Christianity took over the pagans gods.  All of the monuments in this valley has the influence of Graeco-Roman, Egyptian, Mesopotamian and local styles, all fused into one unified artwork. To really appreciate the enormity of this you have to visit here.  I want to come back and hike into the ruins but definitely in the cooler months.  Next stop Nazareth. Here are pictures of Eilat and Petra:

Eilat and the Red Sea

Monument for holding on to Eilat

Explains the pic on your left

Beautiful but HOT

On our way to Petra, Jordan

Jordan's landscape

Starting of Petra Interesting carved out caves

They used some of these caves for burial, or worshiping their gods

The colors are amazing 

The minerals give it color

The size of this is unreal

Horse buggy rides up and down

Like art work the colors swirling together

They are Petra's police the horses are beautiful

This picture you see in the guide book

I loved the camels but it was HOT & the flies yuck!

Yep that's me You get a sense of HOW big this is

Walking further into the "city"

These camels were really well taken care of!

Walking further still!!!!

Life Challenge: Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life..... Dwayne Dyer