On the way to Petra

This morning after a good nights sleep and breakfast we were ready for our first day.

The tour bus navigated through Amman and then headed to the south.  On the way we learned that Jordan is 94 percent Islam and 6 percent Christian and that English is taught in schools as the second language from 1st grade to high school.  Our first stop was Mt Nebo which is at an elevation of 2750 feet above sea level.  This site is where Moses was shown the Promise Land and subsequently  died.  Nobody knows the exact location where he was buried but the Bible tells us that he was still strong, could see well and was 120 years old. 

The above map shows where we are and the other cities.  This view is looking to the Jordan River, and the Promised Land was on the other side of the Jordan River.  The area is also known Moab.

Here is a photo of the stone marker and Meghan.

On the way down the mountain, we stopped at a mosaic shop and learned how local artisans made stone mosaics.  They had many amazing works of art for sale but we opted not to buy.  Next we arrived in the city of Madaba.  We stopped at a Greek Orthodox Church that houses a 6th century mosaic map of the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Holy Land.  This mosaic was discovered in the late 1800's.  The mosaic is in the floor of the church as depicted by this photo.

We had quite a long drive to a castle built by the Crusaders in 1100 or so.   The terrain was very rough - it's a hilly stoney desert type of environment with olive trees being the predominant vegetation.  We also met two Bedouin shepherd boys who scrambled up the hillside to meet us.  Bedouins comprise 2 percent of the population and live as nomads without electricity and take care of their herds of sheep and goats.  Here are some photos of the castle - a close up and from further away. 

 

Our final stop before reaching Petra was Mousa Wadi which means Moses water.  It is the traditional place where Moses struck his staff on a rock and the water came forth.  There is a natural spring on the location but the rock is probably not the actual rock!  Water is a huge issue for Jordan so it's easy to see why the Israelites complained during their trip from Egypt to the Promised Land.   No food, no water and so forth.  However this did not end well for the Israelites who had to wander in the desert for 40 years, and none of the adults except for Joshua actually made it to the Promised Land.  Good thing the Lord isn't so harsh when we complain.

We have two overnights in Petra.  Our hotel is nice but wi if is not free and is spotty.

Karen and Carol