Jordan

The second I stepped out of the airport I knew Jordan was very different than Egypt.  The country seems wealthier, is cleaner, quieter and relaxed (it also a Kingdom!!).  The people are increadibly kind in a low key way.  Every day I met someone who was extremely generous and a number of times a simple question turned into an invitation for tea and even dinner (honestly, last night a 5min errand turned into a 2 hour affair). 
I have toured around Amman, Jerash, visited Petra and today the Dead Sea.  Jordan has this great system of "shared taxis" which is basically an organized form of hitchhiking.  Today I could only take the bus part of the way to the Dead Sea.  At the corner where the bus drops off are a number of guys with cars.  You pay a fee and when the car is full everyone heads to the destination (or same direction).  The buses are the same in that they do not have a set departure time- you leave when the bus is full.  This is frustrating to people who wait for a long time, but everytime I took the bus I only had to wait a few minutes. 

So, the highlights of Jordan...Obviously Petra was the most impressive (the pics don't do it justice).  Petra is an ancient city carved into the rock valleys. The ruins are impressive and the colors of the rocks are gorgeous.  I spent a full day there and was thoroughly cooked afterwards.  It was about 40 degrees with lots of hiking to spots like the cleverly named "High Place of Sacrafice".  I was covered from head to toe to keep from burning and was so hot I almost hired a donkey to take me to the Monestary.  I was happy I didn't when I saw one tourist who could not control his and so it simply went where it wanted (the donkey people don't come with you, just send you up the mountain with the donkey).  I saw another donkey slip and fall on the sandstone hill sending its passenger to the ground.  Also, on one of my last days in Cairo I went via horse to the desert behind the pyramids and one of the horses bit one of the tourists on another horse- no lie, right on the leg.  All that and the infamous Camel Experience with Bri in India and I am quite certain I will never ride an animal anywhere my own 2 legs can take me.  Anyways, Petra was great but one full day was enough for me, the heat is really insane.  Yesterday I went to a Turkish bath in Amman- amazing- and today the Dead Sea.  At the Dead Sea I couldn't stop laughing, it really is a funny experience to have your ass in the water and your legs, arms and head out of the water :)

Tomorrow I head to Israel and my first stop is Tel Aviv.  Wish me luck re the Israeli stamp- I can't have it in my passport (otherwise I can't go to Lebanon and Syria in the future) so hopefully getting the stamp on a slip of paper works.  Below are pics of Petra only. Try and see the people to understand the size of some of the structures.  Thinking of home but happily abroad,

Carrie

PS- sorry to those of you who have been trying to get a hold of me on Skype.  The internet connection really is a challenge.  Fingers crossed we will talk soon!