We all got to sleep in …didn’t leave until 10:30. This whole area around Petra is so hilly. It’s a good thing that they don’t have snow. I tried to post a video of the call to prayer but failed.

Back onto Kings Hwy….from Roman period.

In 1917 was the beginning of WW1 & the first Arab revolt. Before 1917 it was under Ottoman rule. The British (Lawrence of Arabia), ordered Arab tribes to join together to oust Ottomans….to prevent the Ottoman (at the Suez Canal) from accessing Europe (to keep them busy so that they wouldn’t move into Europe). Britain and France originally supported the formation of a United Arab country but reneged the plan. They divided the area into different countries, be shared by the two country. King Hussein was leader of Jordan for almost 50 years before he died of cancer. He brought Jordan to 20th century with universities, bridges and roads, etc. etc. He was married 4 times. He divorced his 1st after couple of years. To guarantee Abdullah (British mother, the 2nd wife, wouldn’t convert to Islam so they divorced) to be king. The 3rd died in a helicopter crash at the location of the airport. Hence, the name of the airport. Jordan got Independence in 1946. It’s called Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Wadi Rum …Valley of the Moon, was the area where many films were made including Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars. It really does look like one would imagine what the moon looks like with vast flat barren “valleys” and strange looking rock formations

Aladdin- movie with Wil Smith.

Stopped at a couple of arches and were greeted by kids and adults with their pet camels. The camels have incredibly long, long eyelashes…maybe 3inches…..and very bristly whiskers

“Steps of the moon” where Starwars was filmed.

Camel races yearly here

Kefir is name of scarfs used by the arabs

Camels came from Austraila via Afghanistan

We met a Bedouin man and son who stay to protect the inscriptions on the rock wall previously damaged by hoodlums. The inscriptions tell story of travellers coming through.

When it comes to names……”Abu” is father of… ,“ om” is mother of….

We are staying in a Bedouin camp in the shade of one of these mountains. They are supposed to be tents but the the walls are solid, the floors have ceramic tiles, there are bathrooms and showers. Only thing is that the roof is fabric. There is a fire pit that some are sitting around in the middle between the “motel rooms”. OMG it is so hot…. Never cooled down.