I named the dog Indiana - 22 April 2009

Today we visited Petra proper. You're probably familiar with at least part of Petra if you've ever seen "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". I'm also told that it has a cameo in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" but since my friend who's a Transformers fanatic gave it at best middling reviews I haven't seen it yet. In case you don't remember, here's what you'll probably recognize:

The Indiana Jones writers took some liberties, though. I've always operated under the assumption that this was the only structure in the canyon. Turns out, though, that this is the treasury building, and that there was an entire civilization that lived down here (The Nabateans). It also turns out that there used to be a lot more relief work on this facade, including large decorative vases. There was a local legend, though, that the vases were filled with gold coins, so the locals took to shooting at them with guns.

Like every other civilization in the region, the Nabateans were eventually conquered by the Romans, who then installed an amphitheater, shown below:

To get to Petra you walk (or ride a horse) down a canyon. Along the way there are many structures carved out of the rock:

As well as rocks that look like animals:



You're probably wondering how a civilization managed to survive and thrive, given the desert conditions (well, unless you've read a lot of Dune). They were rigorous about gathering and keeping water. Throughout the canyons there are these channels, set up to direct any rain water to reservoirs:



There's also beautiful patterns in the sandstone:

Lest you think that it's all beautiful nature, realize that capitalism is alive an well even here. No word on whether Harrison Ford gets a cut of the proceeds:

A desert's an odd place to hear a song about a river - 21 April 2009

You'll notice in yesterday's picture that there's only a blanket separating the "rooms" at our camp. My journal notes: "At least half this group snores, and since there are only blankets separating us you can hear everyone. I join in and sleep surprisingly well." Jennifer was not as lucky.

Today's main activity was a 4x4 tour through Wadi Rum, including an extended tour that we paid 15 Jordanian Dollars for. It's money well spent.

This is a sort of oasis, where water gathers and trees grow. It is hidden from view, but would have been well known to caravans that crossed the desert (and 4x4s full of tourists). There was also a cave nearby where you could take shelter from the elements.



Pulling up to a rock arch in Wadi Rum:



Walking out onto the arch. We had to ask another group to move their 4x4s so that our photos weren't ruined.



After Wadi Rum we loaded onto the bus and moved on to "little" Petra. You won't recognize today's picture, but I promise there will be something more familiar tomorrow:



Evidently there's going to be some high-tone function tonight at little Petra, because there's a crowd of workers setting up tables and a sound system. The funny thing is that they're listening to Chattahoochee by Alan Jackson. Much like Jennifer, though, they don't seem to be enjoying it.