PETRA (no, not the 80's rock band!)

Probably our most fascinating day yet - and that is saying something.  "Wow" just doesn't cut it. 

Petra and Jordan feel different in so many ways - spiritually, in the air, in the way people treat us.  Tourism is still a relatively new in Jordan.  The seem a little annoyed by the presence of Westerners but more than excited about the prospect of re-leaving us of as much money as possible. 

It rained in the desert today - surprise, surprise!  Apparently it's a dangerous thing this time of year especially in Petra where the ground is hard and dry.  Flash floods have been known to hit the area at random and let me tell you, at times, I was scared we were about to witness a "random" act of God!

The view from our hotel room...looks like a painting!  But it isn't - and it's not fog...it is sand in the air.

The first sand tomb carved in Petra

Again, the picture doesn't do it justice!

The Ancient City of Petra - despite the fact that this is one of the Seven Wonders of the World - all I knew about it previous to today was that this is where they filmed Indiana Jones.  All that said, there are not enough words to adequately describe the architectural and natural beauty of what we walked through and witnessed today.  The skill and magnitude of what God has created here was absolutely incredible.  The way the wind and sun have formed caves that people lived in (and probably still live in, although the government officially moved them out only a few years ago). 

Amy and her new friend, Alethea - and some scary looking guards!

One of the ways we could have gone up and down the path.

The Treasury - as seen in Indiana Jones...an incredible piece of art.

This little girl broke my heart.  Lord, bless her!!

As we walked street vendors, local entrepreneurs and beggars flooded around desperate to sell us everything (clothes, tea, postcards, jewelry, donkey and camel rides, buggy rides) anything.  We were told by our tour guide not to look them in the eyes or engage in conversation or they will not leave you alone.  Amy found out the truth as she looked into the eyes of a five year little girl pleading with her to buy a post card - its not only that they won’t leave you alone - its that once you realize how incredibly human, valuable and precious each of them are - you don’t want to leave them - not here in this life where despite the fact that she is bright and beautiful, because  of destined poverty, and the fact that as a woman she will have few rights and little hope.  Hours later as we prepared to leave we saw her again along with the other children gathered around her adult male “pimp” giving in the money they had gleaned in order to receive more postcards and possibly a meal - it was heartbreaking - oh how I would have love to steal her away from here.  Of all God and man’s creations we saw today she by far was the most beautiful.   Amy prayed for her all afternoon and wished she had taken the opportunity to verbally bless the little girl.  

As we finished our climb out of Petra we finally gave in to the barrage of the local vendors and stepped into a shop own apparently by the cousin of our tour guide - whether or not they were related they definitely were in cahoots.  That is where we purchased our own headdresses to match those of the King and Queen of Jordan.  As I worked to try and barter the shop keep down a little I was a little surprised when he asked me - how many camels for my wife?  He was jesting of course but he was fairly captivated by Amy’s eyes and I don’t think it would have taken much to get the negotiations going.  Later our tour guide said that we should be complimented because camels in Jordan can be worth as much as half a million dollars.  Can you imagine me coming home and telling the boys - I have some good news and some bad news.  The good news is that we are rich,  rich, rich and can now all travel anywhere in the world.  The bad news is that we are going to have to because Mommy is now living in a tent in Jordan.  

But I am a fortunate man because I got to end the day watching a gorgeous sunset over the Dead Sea and then having dinner with my wife who I wouldn’t trade for any amount of  camels - how’s that for a comment that should go inside a hallmark card.