Crossing (into) Jordan

A cool wind blew through Damascus yesterday, the winds following me as I made my way south into Jordan. This morning I rose at six to catch the seven a.m. Karnak (government sponsored tourist bus) to Amman. At the border we were delayed for an hour. An Arabic man travelling with two children had numerous disputes. His children were well travelled due to the stamps on their German children's passport, but somehow the authorities were unwilling to let him through. Finally the conductor of the bus took his luggage out from under the bus and left it at immigration. We drove off leaving him and his children seemingly stranded.

In Amman, I decided to come straight to Petra. The minibus drove south down the Desert Highway, the desert stretching to the horizon all around us. As we approached the city, the bus turned off towards Wadi Musa, and started climbing. Suddenly vegetation appeared by the side of the road, and trees lined the way.

Arriving in Petra, I checked into a hotel down the street from city center, a (supposed) five minute walk from the entrance. I've wanted to see the ancient city since seeing the third Indiana Jones film, and it was all I could do to keep myself from spending the waning hours of the day walking through the siq to catch my first glimpse. Already I have set the alarm for six in the morning so that I can arrive at the gates when it opens. And now, to the supermarket to prepare my picnic lunch. Posted by eku at May 12, 2004 5:18 PM