In front of the Monastery

My boys

An example of dwellings and tombs carved into the rock

We spent second Eid (Muslim holiday) in Jordan with two families who have become very important to us. We first traveled to Petra, an ancient city (312 BC) carved out of stone and famous for its sophisticated water conduit systems that allowed the city to prosper and survive droughts and floods. Petra was on a major caravan trade route between Gaza and Damascus in the north to Aqaba and Saudi in the south. It is often referred to as a “rose-red city” because of the rose-hued rock structures from which it is carved. As the sun sets, it is impossible to ignore the change of color. It isn’t subtle. It is as if the shadows change the color of the stone. This place is on the Smithsonian’s list of 28 Places to See Before You Die. 

I know I’ve lost some of you who are not so historical, shall we say. But if you beheld this place with your own eyes, you’d be smitten for life. Truly unbelievable.

The kids rest on the donkeys up the dreaded 900 steps to the Monastery

Did I mention that to get into Petra and explore the Treasury (featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) you must hike in 5 km?  To get to the Monastery (AKA Al Dier) you have to walk an additional 4-5 km which includes 900 steps up. Did I also mention that this distance is one way and we did it with 7, yes seven, children in tow? Just for posterity I’m going to include their ages… 7, 7, 5, 5, 4, 3, 2.5 years.

Now, we might be crazy (all 6 parents, that is), but we are NOT stupid. This tour of Petra was the original catalyst for getting us to consider Jordan as a group trip to begin with. I can tell you that Monkey and Noodle would have made it approximately 120 meters before they were whining that it was “too faaa–aaar” and they were “too tire-ed” to walk anymore. I’m fairly certain the same would have been true with our friends’ kiddos. So we opted to take our chances on traveling together and prayed that our children, who already knew and loved each other, would entertain each other on this mammoth hike. I have one word… VICTORY! I didn’t hear a word of complaint until we were about 6 hours into the hike and only about a kilometer away from the exit.  And they didn’t have lunch. It was almost 5 p.m. and they were dead on their feet, but they were troopers. Travelers with little guys, take note!

Petra was one of those places that makes you re-think all the progress we’ve made in the last 2000 years. The Nebataeans were smart, industrious and competent. How else do you explain the sophistication of this giant fortress at this early point in our history in the desert. Seriously. I’m not sure we’re as smart as we think we are today. We’re lazy… sure. But smart. Hmmm…

The Magnificent 7 and Nick

Vow Renewal– Petra style