I was flying from Israel to Dubai.

I had to have a compulsory stop in Jordan on the way. Of course I couldn’t go out of the airport terminal but I was surprised at the amount of Americans dressed in their khaki  safari dress. I couldn’t help but overhear their conversation and they were talking about their visit to Petra.  My interest was ignited.

My Sister lived in the UAE and after teaching in Dubai I spent time with her in one of the other Arab Emirates.”You need to go to Petra” she said.Goodness, yet another recommendation… and so the following year we did go. I’ve never shared the images I took, and this is the accompanying dialogue.

“We’re still in Petra and the internet is very slow despite the high price. I reckon by the time I get home I could purchase an internet tower.

Don’t tell anyone, but I met my match today.

A three mile ride on a camel is not all it’s cut out to be. My legs are not the right shape. I had to hang on to my camera and at the same time desperately hold the bar part of the saddle while the camel lumbered over the stones… every now and then I would think “thank goodness we were going to stop !!!!” gees no we kept going….

Now when he did stop there was another inward panic on my part…. he had to kneel down to let me off, as one who hates those roller coaster things in fun parks I felt I was letting myself down by succumbing to the whiles of the camel.

But he slid onto his padded knees and I held on gritting my teeth and grimacing. Then I couldn’t get my leg over the saddle… You know my legs are not designed for camels. ( I said that before.) In between the drama we visited the magnificent Treasury. It was worth the drama. You walk out of the ancient SIC and come into a huge cavern dominated by the Treasury building.

But we were not done there… catch a donkey and donkey taxi up almost 1000 feet. Yep, the donkeys can climb rocks and steps, with cumbersome Aussies on board.

A 12 year old boy talked us through it… my donkey just climbed…. no hands !!!!

Keith was impressed with my donkey driving skills.
800 steps folk, 800 rocky steps up to the highest point in Petra ON A DONKEY…. I think I need to add it to my resume.

The view was incredible and we sat on carpeted benches in solitude and drank hot sweet Turkish coffee.

Then again, what goes up, must come down. 800 steps, 10 miles of walking and lots of chatting and visiting with people and we had made it…

I could barely walk when we got to the hotel…. and I’m not sure how I will cope with a trek in the desert tomorrow….but that’s another day.!!