Petra

Amazing!

I'm not sure I can find the proper words to describe Petra, the Nabataean capital city dating to the 6th century BC. Photos will have to do.

Work obligations meant that Jenn and Diane had to return first thing Friday morning while Jenny, Jennifer and I added an extra day to the trip to tour Petra. We hired a car to take us on the three hour drive south from Amman. The countryside changes dramatically as you leave the city, and the approach to Petra is spectacular. Our time was limited, so we focused on the Siq, Treasury, theatre and a fairly rigorous hike up to the Monastery (over 800 steps, and steep). The views on the way up, down, and at the top made it well worth our while, but we didn't have the time to fully explore the site. We were advised (accurately) to wait until you came down from the Monastery for lunch, because beer would never taste so good.

Above, the Treasury.

We were also advised that a camel ride out would provide a completely different view of the site (higher up), as well as great photo ops. There's a lot of very heavy handed selling at Petra (Jenny was "given" a bracelet and then asked for a present in return), so we barganed for our ride out......Jennifer found this mode of transportation a far cry from New York city!

We left the site late in the afternoon exhausted, but delighted with the experience.

In all, this was a highly successful trip from a professional perspective and also a personal treat. The Sisters have always traveled well together, and this trip was no exception. Considering the duration and pace of this trip, it's a true sign of collaboration, and one often noted by the counselors we met along the way.

I'm safely home now, trying to get back into the right time zone, and clear headed enough to dig into the backlog of work that awaits both at home and at the office.

So, I'll sign off now--thanks for reading!

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