2011 - H & A WORLD CRUISE - PETRA

I HAVE A RULE WHERE I DO NOT PUT MORE THAN 50 PHOTOS IN A BLOG ENTRY.

RULES ARE THERE TO BE BROKEN..

PETRA JORDAN

LEAVING AQUABA EARLY MORNING, IT IS A LONG, BUT INTERESTING DRIVE....

TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF PETRA....

AND A LONG DOWNHILL WALK JUST TO THE SIQ, THE ENTRANCE TO THE CANYON LEADING DOWN TO PETRA..

THE GUIDE HAS BEEN GIVING A RUNNING COMMENTARY AS WE GO DOWN, & DOWN.

THEN HE TELLS US WE ARE GETTING CLOSE...& JUST A GLIMPSE THROUGH THE CANYON...

AND WE STEP OUT INTO THE LIGHT & THE TREASURY OF PETRA IS IN FRONT OF US....

THE STAR OF THE SHOW..

AND ABOUT A THOUSAND EXTRAS

MARTHA - SUITABLY AWESTRUCK, OR MAYBE SHE IS WONDERING HOW MUCH THE CAMEL COSTS IN DOLLARS....

BOB & LORAINE - NOT LOOKING WELL PLEASED.

THEY HAD COME DOWN BY DONKEY CART.

A BONE JARRING JOURNEY.

THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TRIP BACK UP..

THERE THEY GO...

SOME WOULD HAVE REALISED BY NOW THAT WHAT GOES DOWN, MUST GO UP - & TURNED TAIL BY NOW.

THEY WOULD HAVE MISSED A TREAT..

THIS IS MAYBE HALF WAY.

THE GUIDE LEADS US ON, FURTHER DOWN HILL.

SOME BEDOIN - NOT TOO SCARY..

NOT ALL OF THEM ANYWAY...

THIS GIRL THOUGHT I WAS TAKING A PHOTO OF HER & SAID IT'S OK, I COULD, SHE DID NOT MIND.

I SHOWED HER THE PHOTO WAS ACTUALLY OF A DONKEY BUT SINCE SHE WAS OK WITH IT, I WOULD LIKE HER PICTURE.

I OFFERED HER SOME CASH BUT SHE REFUSED.

I INSISTED & GAVE HER A NOTE BUT SAID I WANTED SOME CHANGE.

SHE WENT OFF WITH MY MONEY & I KISSED IT GOODBYE BUT SHE CAME BACK WITH SMALLER BILLS.

LOVELY GIRL... LOOKING COOL AS A CUCUMBER...

THE DONKEY....

A WELCOMING SIGN IN ANY LANGUAGE, MAY ACTUALLY BE ENGLISH...

THE TIME STAMPS ON MY PICTURES TELL ME IT IS NOW NOON & I LEFT THE TOP AT 9:30.

SEEMS LIKE LONGER..

FAIRLY POOPED BY NOW, THIS IS AS FAR DOWN AS I GET.

PUT THE CAMERA ON EXTREME ZOOM, TAKE A FEW SHOTS, A CUP OF TEA & HEAD BACK.....

UP...

MAYBE TAKE THE CAMEL BACK UP?

NAH!

I MET AN ELDRLY LADY FROM THE SHIP ( LETS FACE IT - ARE THERE ANY OTHER KIND, APART FROM MARTHA? ) ON THE WAY UP. AND SHE WAS A GOOD EXCUSE TO TAKE IT VERY SLOW.

WE MADE IT, ARM IN ARM TO THE TOP WHERE I FOUND - AYE CARAMBA - SHE IS NOT WITH MY GROUP.

LUCKILY THERE WERE SOME SHIPS PEOPLE WHO TOOK CHARGE OF HER.

SERVES HER RIGHT FOR PICKING YOUNG GUYS UP IN STRANGE CANYONS.

AND - WE EXIT AT THE TOP. HEAD TO THE HOTEL TO EAT & GET THE BUS BACK TO THE SHIP...

MMMMMmmmmmm....... JORDAN - I LIKE IT.....