Petra "not a girl but place" :-)
Petra… well not a girl I mean location in Jordan where I arrived around 7:30pm after the taxi trip from Aqaba port. We landed at port around 4pm and disembarked the ferry all foreigners together as if we were some kind VIP 😊 as we walked out from the ferry towards the port building I was stopped by security police, since I was first to disembark ferry and later all foreigners were stropped too, our passports taken and we followed this police guy to the first floor of port building, where we waited for our passport to be stamped and then went to immigration to have our photo taken and another stamp given. In between those stamping procedures one French guy asked me if I want to share cab to Aqaba with him and another fella from the Ferry which I said yes and I also turned to the two girls and a boy from Netherlands who were on the boat with us. Thank God they were there as they were on the road to Petra which suited me perfectly and I was asking them if I could tag along with them since one of the girls speaks Arabic and we could share cost of taxi, what they had agreed to do so. As we did the tour the port from immigration on first floor to outside and around the building to enter ground floor and exit the area thorough another x-ray security check exiting building where I had to empty all suitcase as my scuba equipment “but not my Japanese knife” caused a bit issue on the X-ray. So unpacked and packed again and we were off right to the hands of taxi drivers who were descend on us like flies on piece of shit but this girl tell them off in Arabic and as I said Bon Voyage to French guy who was already in taxi, we walked away from taxi drivers towards the main road as there is cheaper and they apparently had taxi driver on the phone who supposed to pick them up but who did not answered the calls. Well since he did not answered we’ve got taxi right from the road who agreed for 45 JOD / € 50 to drive us to Petra / Wadi Sum so we loaded what we can into boot and took one suitcase on my knees at front passenger seat.
As we were driving towards the Petra I told them that I need to stop at ATM since I haver no cash on me, which was translated to taxi driver and he agreed to stop at one. As the taxi progressed we were talking about various things, life, travel until girls were slowly become more and more quieter until they dozed off and silence entered car. Later when we took left turn from motorway towards the Petra, driver was asking something and the girl told me that he is going to bring us to ATM so I can get cash. The Wadi Sum is hilly and with lots of bending streets so we got lost few times when the driver has to ask locals for directions but we have found the ATM. However this ATM did not cooperate with my cards so we moved to another ATM and there I was able to withdraw money plus 3.5 JOD / €4.13 as fee for ATM “bastards” on top of my bank fees as REVOLUT did not worked here for some reason. Anyway we are in the RAFIKI Hostel as one girl has booked room so I hoped that they will have one more bed, which they did and I apparently got last room / bed available 35 JOD / €44 so since it was dark and cold “yes cold 5 degrees Celsia” I was happy to get room since this is high season for new year and I asked if it could be 30 but the receptionist said that he will give it to me for 35 without taxes as apparently price is without tax.
As we were waiting to go to sinner and had small talk guy sitting down at near table mentioned that I have Irish accent “of what I’m proud of” and we start talking, realizing that he is from Dalkey and that we know the same people, because we were drinking in the same pub 😊 what a small world.
All done and we were on the way for dinner just down the street and around corner to local eatery where all tourist sat and eat. Nice food, good talk and over all only 10 JOD / €12.32 each so not that bad, not cheap as in Egypt but even taxi for €50 all the way to Petra from Aqaba is not bad price I would say. Dinner done and we were back in the hostel, where we were busy on ours little devil friend “smart phone” as the couple tried to locate the driver who will take them to their hotel as there were not more rooms available in RAFIKI Hostel and they were on so called honeymoon so they need better accommodation than Hostel. It is 23:00 and it is time to sleep.
Sunday 30th December and got a relatively decent sleep when I took second duvet from second bed “thank God for twin room” and then I was able to sleep, wonderingly it was cold even for me in the bed. Usual fit routine and then shower after a couple minutes since it took a while to get some warm water but jumped in and just as I was soaping my precious temple “I mean my body” the water become a boiling hot. Nice and at the same time not so nice surprise but thankfully mini me was not affected. Breakfast was gone by 8am when I came down as if the today was the last day, when food is supplied. Well asked for few breads, since the honey and cheese was there so together with green peppers and tea was enough to get me going. Italian and polish girl next table talking in Italian and later the Dutch girl came down too. Small talk and I was out as she said she is waiting for couple to wake up and will go with them to Petra. I was walking through shortcut towards Petra over the locals area where kids were talking to me and tried to speak a bit of English since I did not respond to Arabic. The road was on the other side of gorge what is splitting the Wadi Musa in half and the other road is more longer as it is winding left, right. Eventually at Petra and the exploration started.
Place is huge and the rock formations and their color is something amazing as if someone played with formula or painted the rocks with pastel colors. Twist and bends all looked as if you mixed dough with color for some cake. The main road is going down through the narrow passage and on the both side is water channel through which the clay pipes brought water to the stone city of Petra. The treasury building is impressive but also full of tourist so I kept going all the way to the end of church Ad Deir what was much more impressive for myself and also there are viewing points to each valley from the top, what was something to see. So quiet and so beautiful I just sat there in peace and admired the rocks and hills. Amazing sight, truly amazing I did not know how much I missed the hiking and hills until I saw this and realized that I need to live in country with sea and mountains as hiking and scuba diving is for me really important and if there is BJJ I will be happy as Larry. Anyway Theatre and Royal tombs were another nice sight, carved from the rock and even of the tombs are not much from inside the outside is really something to see. Still amazed by the colors and the sheer volume and size of those tombs. I have to say I liked the hike even if the steps are not really natural hiking ground but I met finish couple with child on the top of the world view as they named this viewing point and had to say he was fair play fit to carry baby on the back in the seat. As I was returning back to visitor center I went through different path to see the byzantine church and Royal tombs as well as other tombs and chambers carved into rock. Some of the chambers are converted to shops since the path is lined with shops with trinkets and coffee, drinks etc…with locals sitting by smoldering piece of timber what supposed to be fire for heating their tea. It might be hot enough but there was more smore than fire as far as I can see, still they were happy as Larry and all shouted that “only one dinar, only one dinar, buy some” but as I was passing some who decided to buy something there was never less amount than thirty dinars for scarf. And donkey as well as donkey shirt everywhere, you just hear the boy making sound beep beep and see donkey coming at ya with some person in saddle in best case or with plastic cases of various good mostly oranges what are not that nice when stabbed to your side. At the end /start section I’ve met a New Zealand chap who got talking to me and we spent time walking towards the visitor center, exchanging the contact details and parted, since he was waiting for his friends. Way back to the RAFIKI hostel I stopped at local restaurant at the corner Reem Beladi Restaurant where we were last night as my stomach was signaling that I should look after it rather sooner than later as even those skinny stray dogs and cats started looking appetizing to me. Nice lamb shish with great yogurt, salad, bread and few fries plus tea for 10 dinars / €12 is not bad deal and since I was famished I did great job so no need for kitchen porter to clean it.
Back in hostel I met Simon the Irish chap from Dalkey who is now living in Lebanon and he said that he met Japanese girl who also lived in Dublin studying English and that they booked tour in Wadi Rum tomorrow and night and I did joined them as it will be cheaper as well as time saver since I have no much time left in Jordan. All is falling together nicely, thank God and Angels for all the right people in the right moment in so far on my trip. I think that I will go to bed early as we had to catch bus at 6:00am to Wadi Rum tomorrow.
