Feb 6, 2009 - We got an early start today to begin a full day in Petra – the ancient rose-red city built by the Nebataens more than 2200 years ago. This kingdom once stretched to Damascus, parts of the Sinai and most of Arabia. Outside culture can been seen in many of the carved monuments including Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Graeco-Roman and of course their own local styles. As you walk through a deep, narrow gorge towards the main entrance of Petra, carvings of camels are etched. They levied tolls to protect caravans as they transported goods such as Arabian frankincense and myrrh, Indian spices and silks, African ivory and hides. Perhaps the most amazing experience is that last turn when the Al-Khazneh (Treasury) slowly comes into view and you find yourself standing right in front of this enormous structure carved in the 1st century BC right into the sandstone rocks. WOW – it is beautiful. But this is only a part of this city and we only have one full day to cover what is suggested to take 3 days. If you aren’t up to the 4 miles in and 4 miles back, various forms of transportation are available. A horse and carriage from the entrance to the Treasury. From there camels or donkeys are for hire to continue along the “street” past many royal tombs to the theater – once holding over 7000 people – carved into solid rock. There is now a small restaurant at the “end of the line” and as luck would have it, it was lunch time when we arrived. Eleven of us (including a lady in her early 70’s) regained our strength and took the 900+ steps cut into the rocks up to the Monastery. Along the way you can hitch a ride on a donkey and of course the price is lower as you get closer to the top. Also never to miss an opportunity to sell, ladies set up small tables that seem to cling to the edge of the rocks so you can catch your breathe and maybe buy a little souvenier. But do you really want to carry more weight to the top of the mountain. This is Petra’s 2nd most famous attraction. And the view from here is wonderful. From one vantage point Aaron’s tomb is seen ontop of a mountain across the valley. Once back down from the mountain we still had the 4 mile trek on a very dusty, rocky road. Some excepted the deal to ride a donkey right to the entrance of the siek. I decided to ride a camel. First to get on is an experience of its own. The young man taps the knees of the camel to get the animal down to the ground. It’s the only animal that has knee caps “reversed” or backwards. The saddle has a horn in the back and front. Once on, hang on and lean as far back as the horn will allow because the camel rises his hinds legs first. If you don’t you will fall off face first. You straddle the “saddle” which is padded with a rug and your legs hang down. The gate of a camel is long and slow. The young man riding his camel decided to trot. It is a real shake-up and not very comfortable. As we passed the Treasury and walked back through the deep, narrow gorge that brought us here earlier this morning. But this was very different. Instead of walking with 100 or so other tourist, now there was only us. Two camels slowly, quietly walking the same pathway thousands of caravans had done two thousand years ago. It was the best 10.00 spent for this experience.