A World without walls
everyday life while homeschooling overseas
Beautiful sky on our drive through the Desert Highway Well, hopefully it's not OUR last crusade... Of course, that movie wasn't Indiana's last crusade, either, really, as he had a run-in with some aliens later. Regardless, it seemed like a good place to go and experience something awesome! Indiana Jones Gift Shop! Time to watch the movie! Devin and I have started a tradition of doing seriously outdoorsy activities for our anniversaries. We both really enjoy hiking/biking/running/exercising, so why not do something somewhat physically grueling together since we can't really be so...intense...with the kids... Last year, we went on a 110 mile bike ride through the archipelago sea between Sweden and Finland. This year, we decided to go to Petra and do some serious hiking! We started out at sunrise and hiked until sunset and saw EVERYTHING that we could possibly see! I have no idea how much we walked, but we're both in pretty good shape and by the time we got to our hotel that evening we were pretty beat! It was SO AWESOME! It is even cooler than all the guide books will tell you. The pictures look pretty cool, but the real thing...well, it's beyond words. Hiking through the Siq to get to the entrance of Petra--the Treasury! Honestly, I didn't know there was SO MUCH to Petra! The Treasury was just the beginning. We hiked along and saw TONS of tombs, carvings, donkeys, camels, churches, temples... Wow. Another highlight of our trip was hiking up to the Monastery. Wow. It's quite the hike. It's like 800 steps (large stairs carved into the rock) up to this really high point. Once you reach the end of the stairs, you turn right and look out...and Oh. My. Goodness. You think the Treasury is impressive? It's got nothin' on the Monastery! It's HUGE and seriously impressive. As we were on our way back to the hotel after our hiking, I couldn't give up the chance to take a short camel ride! Good thing it was short--those things are NOT comfortable! But it sure looks cool!! :) After the camel ride, we took a short break to eat a snack and get our energy back for one very last hike: The High Place of Sacrifice. We were feeling pretty good again, and took most of the stairs two at a time and made that hike in about 10-15 minutes (the guides tell you it takes 1 1/2 hours...whatever)! It was very impressive! The views on the edge of the cliff were astounding, and it was just so interesting to see the altars of sacrifice and to KNOW that what we've been taught about sacrifice is really real! You can just imagine the Children of Israel up there doing their sacrifices. Amazing. On our way back, we were passed often by the carriage rides you can take from the Treasury up to the entrance if you don't want to walk the 1km back uphill. We found the walk very lovely and MUCH more comfortable than wooden wheels on rocky and unpaved ground! :) All part of the experience, I guess, but I liked watching them pass instead of sitting in them. Here is the proof of what you can do when you turn of the tv. Gives you something to think about, eh?
2 Comments
mom
12/28/2012 06:56:40 am
How amazing!! A lot of the architecture and the Byzantine art looked Roman, or had a Roman influence. Did they tell you anything about it, or who lived there?
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Tiffany
1/9/2013 03:18:41 am
So glad you've made it to Petra already! Impressive! We loved our Jordan vacation - and Petra was the highlight.
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Who Am I?
As a Stay At Home Mom of 4 wonderful children, I have the amazing opportunity not only to home school them, but to do so in many different places! I am married to the most amazingly wonderful (and handsome) man in the whole world! Together, we seek out, every day, that Joy in the Journey that makes life exciting! Archives
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Emily's books
by Dan Brown
I like that the plot twists and turns a lot...and it makes you think. However, I don't appreciate Dan Brown's endings in his books. I find the endings incongruent with the rest of his stories--why make it a romance for the last chapter...
by Shannon Hale
I loved this book. I'm a sucker for fairy tales/fantasy. This was so well written! I can't wait to read all the rest of her books!
by Shannon Hale
I'm reading this one again. I liked it the first time I read it. I'm still liking it for the second time around. I like all of Shannon Hales' books.
**Still lots of fun the second time around! I do like this book for a comfortable...
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