It was still dark when the alarm went off at 5-45am. We had packing to do as our room has to be vacated after breakfast.
We plan to leave all our stuff in the luggage room here, have a full day in Petra, return and shower and tidy ourselves up by late afternoon in the hotel's pool complex, have a leisurely dinner, catch up on some blogging, then our driver is booked for 10pm tonight to get us to Amman airport for our 3-30am flight back to the UK, via Istanbul. This is only possible as we are the only 2 people on this tour. Usually we would have had to leave for Amman after breakfast for other people to catch earlier flights - thus depriving us of our extra treasured day in Petra. In contrast to yesterday's downpours, the day dawns sunny and warm and by 8-45 we are in a taxi heading for the site. We had a leisurely walk down the Siq, still just as magical the second time around.
We headed upwards to see the High Place of Sacrifice before the temperature got too hot
and en route we became acquainted with 2 ladies currently working in Switzerland who were afraid of heights - they coped remarkably well - as did Pollie!
near the top of the High Place.
We then retraced our steps down, and went past the Theatre
then on to the Royal Tombs - where Pollie was nearly sick as a tourist did a handstand right on the cliff edge in front of the Palace Tomb ( probably seeking his moment of fame in the style of "where's Matt" - on You Tube ) This being our last day we were in the market for a bit of retail therapy, looking for gifts for our nearest and dearest, and the Arab bazaar is never far way, even in the ruins of Petra. This stall is in the doorway of the Palace Tomb:
but our heart and our money went out to the 32 year old widowed mother of 10, who entertained us royally with cups of tea and good humour while we succumbed to her jewellery.
As she's on the lookout for a husband I've sent her Matt's photo !
After a quick lunch of sweets and water we set out up the 800 steps leading up to the Monastery,
Our first view of the impressive Monastery, high up on the plateau above the main site.
It's breathtaking! People were pointing up at the top of the building - at the very moment we had arrived a young man had scaled the edifice and was standing right on the top of it :
We watched with our hearts in our mouths as he jumped from column to column
Wondering if it was a daily event staged for the tourists we were proved wrong as, on his descent, he seemed embarassed at the clapping and adulation he'd earned and quickly took his place with his group of friends just behind us
It seemed we were getting treat piled upon treat - what are the odds of being in that place just as he demonstrated his joie de vivre in that unique way? We were definitely on a high. A short stroll above the Monastery took us
to see the view over the edge.
Pollie decided this was near enough to the edge - but the view was spectacular :
After the exhilaration of the really high parts of Petra we slowly made our way back down in the heat of late afternoon, had a last visit to the museum shop, and then reluctantly started to make our way out.
Pollie went native on me and decided to ride from the Siq entrance back towards town -
I worked on the premise that 4 legs are good, but my own 2 are a lot more manageable - they've stood me in good stead for this wonderful trip and hopefully they'll see me through the rest of this walking year.
* I would like to thank On the Go Tours and Petra Moon agency for the professionalism of the organisation of this memorable trip - Eid, our walking guide, for his patience in answering our endless questions, and in getting us safely to our destination ...and of course Pollie, whose marvellous company made the whole trip
unforgettable.
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