The Travelling Mama

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Holy Land 2019 ~ The Lost City of Petra (DAY 11 ~ JORDAN)

DAY 11 - The City of Petra

For this leg of our journey, we stayed at the Petra Panorama Hotel. It is located on a mountain overlooking the city of Petra. The view from our hotel balcony is a peak of what's to come later in the day ~

TIPS:

It was about 4 degrees outside and the Siberian Wind was making it worse for my tropic-built body. Remember to wear warm clothes. Wear gloves and a beanie hat to keep you warm. For additional heat, I also brought with me heat packs I got from Lazada (I added a link here for your reference>>> heat pack).

Able bodied individuals would take 15-20 minutes (normal strides, with regular stops for admiring the scenery and taking photos) to reach The Treasury (which is the first structure you would see as you enter the City). However, if you are not up for the walk, for an additional fee, you can hire a golf cart or ride a horse carriage.

Off to Petra

Walking towards Petra is remarkably breathtaking. I imagine myself travelling the harsh dessert environment, then taking shelter at this magnificent city.

The City (which was established by the nomad Arabs know as Nabataeans) used to be a famous trade hub during ancient times. It lies on the slope of Jebel al-Madhbah (identified by some as the biblical Mount Hor, where Aaron the brother of Moses died).

The City of Petra is UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its rock architecture, boasting rock facades, tombs, and temples carved out of rose red sandstone. It appeared in the movie Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade.

Check out this movie clip ~

The entrance to the city is through a very narrow path about a kilometer wide with a cliff on each side ~

Our walking buddies..

Me and my sand dirty shoes :P

I guess this is how the Nabataean Guards dress like ~

You choice of transfers :P

We opted to walk though, as wanted more time to admire the view and of course take pictures.

The Treasury, with our Tour Group

It was almost lunch when we finished our hike, and you guess it right, we were famished! Good thing, lunch was just across the Petra Complex.

Our lunch at Movenpick Petra ~

We left Petra soon after and arrived at Amman around 4pm ~ It was nice of David to get a church for us, where we can have mass at such short notice.

The Martyrs of Jordan Parish

A thanksgiving mass, was indeed a perfect way to cap our day.

Follow our Holy Land Adventure:

For Holy Land helpful Tips >>> Holy Land Tips

DAY 1 - welcome to Cairo Egypt >>>> Day 1

DAY 2 - touring the land of ancient monuments, pharaohs and great pyramids >>>> Day 2

DAY 3 - road to Mt Sinai >>>> Day 3

DAY 4 - from St Catherine Monastery to Israel >>>> Day 4

DAY 5 - floating on the Dead Sea >>>> Day 5

DAY 6 - around Jerusalem >>>> Day 6

DAY 7 - around the OLD City of Jerusalem >>>> Day 7

DAY 8 - Jaffa, Caesarea and remarrying my EX >>>> Day 8

DAY 9 - The Trails of Jesus >>>> DAY 9

DAY 10 ~ Mount Tabor >>>> DAY 10

Please check also my separate post on all the hotels we've stayed at during our tour of the Holy Land.

For questions and inquiries on our Tour Package with CITTI please visit their facebook page at CORPORATE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURS INC.

Holy Land 2019 ~ Mount Tabor (DAY 10 ~ ISRAEL - JORDAN)

DAY 10 - The Long Travel to Jordan

Today is our last day in Israel. I felt there is so much more to see and things to do here and our stay in this blessed country is simply not enough. I swore we will be back ~ next time hopefully with our family.

Our last stop is Mount Tabor (The Mount of Transfiguration).

In early days, pilgrims needed to climb 4300 steps to reach the summit.

We got lucky, since now, there are shuttle taxi buses (the steep curves makes it difficult for big buses to climb the Mountain) for an easier ascend.

This fig tree is a welcome treat when we arrived at Mount Tabor.

In the Book of Genesis, it is said that Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover their nudity after eating the forbidden fruit from the tree of good and evil.

Finally on top of Mount Tabor ~

Mount Tabor is believed to be the possible location of the Transfiguration of Jesus.

The "Basilica of the Transfiguration" was built on top of the Mount, with a mosaic of Jesus surrounded by Moses and Elijah, and below them, Peter, James and John, to commemorate the event.

The church has "three chapels, with a small altar which represents the three huts which Peter wanted to build for Jesus, the other two for Moses and Elijah".

We held mass at the Tabernacle of Moses.

On our way down Mount Tabor, we met Dr. Love himself, Mr June Banaag!

We exited Israel via the Allenby Bridge (also known as the King Hussein Bridge). The ride from Israel to Jordan took about 5 hours and we were hungry by the time we reached Amman, Jordan. Waiting at Jordan side of the border is our tour guide in Jordan, David.

David knew exactly where to take us for our first stop in Jordan ~

We were served a traditional Jordanian dish ~ Mansaf. Mansaf is made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt called Jameed and served with rice or bulgur. A casserole made of layers of rice, vegetables and meat.

Well, lo and behold, the restaurant doubles as one-stop souvenir shop :P

I am guessing, you know what this means :P