Day 2: Drive to Petra

We stopped at the Subway shop in Amman for sandwiches to eat on the way because there aren't any restaurants or fast food places to stop for food. 

Driving south from Amman, we took the King's Highway, a major trade route that runs from Syria in the north to Aqaba in the south.  The area south of Amman is much like southern Utah--very dry desert.  We passed through several small towns, but nothing very significant.  This same highway was used by Abraham when he sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac.  Moses and the children of Israel also passed through here.  In New Testament times the King's Highway was a route between Galilee and Judea that would have been taken to avoid the land of the Samaritans.  Some say Jesus may have traveled from Galilee to Jersalem this way.  Later, when Paul journeyed from Damascus to Arabia he would walked the King's Highway.  We're glad we had a nice car and didn't have to walk.

Even so, it was a long,trip that took about 4 hours.  When we got hungry we pulled off to the side of the road to eat our Subways and it wasn't long before the Jordanian police came to check to see why Dad was standing outside along the highway eating his lunch.

In Petra we had great rooms at the Petra Moon Hotel, almost directly across the street from the entrance to the park.

 Waiting for Dad to check in . . .and make friends with the desk clerk

 "How long have you worked here?"

It was still early in the evening, so we went shopping in the souvenir shops down the street.

We dressed up in Arabic gear...

Got invited for "tea"...

And made friends with the shop owners.  This is Mcmoud

"How long have you worked here?"

Lemon-mint drinks with dinner.  Tasty!!