I recently went on family holiday to Jordan. My parents currently live in Jerusalem! My father works for the International Red Cross, so they have been posted out there for 2 years. We travelled around Jordan for a week. Exploring the amazing ancient Petra and following Laurence of Arabia’s footsteps through Wadi Rum.
As a family we never do holidays like normal people. You see, my mother is an artist and quite an eccentric one. She travels with huge pieces of paper wherever she goes and bags full of paints. Crossing the border into Jordan from Israel was interesting. The 6 foot pieces of paper that we were traveling with were being transported in a large 6ft long tube. Security on the Isralie side were not so impressed and were very confused to what this 'bazooka' shaped object was. But once on the Jordan side of the border, the officials found it hilarious and proceeded to play around with it on their shoulders and pretended to shoot it toward the other side.
Anywayss… after a hot drive we landed in Wadi Musa. At the
Petra Moon Hotel. Which was lovely. Lucky the night we arrived there was a chance to go and see ‘Petra by night’ The 3 kilometre walk down to the treasury was lit up by candles and as we got closer we could see the thousands of candles that lit it up and a Bedouin man played his flute while we were served hot Bedouin tea (delicious with lots of sugar and sage).
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| Petra By Night |
The next morning we went back down, Mum and Dad riding a horse and carriage and my brother Jasper and I walking over the ancient rocks past all the Gin Caves where they believed spirits were captured to keep the city safe.
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| My New Friends - They filled my sketchbook book up with all sorts of fun drawings |
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| Painting with Mum |
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| I love all the colourful Camel Saddles |
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| Jasper befriended a tiny kitten |
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| Jasper and I |
There are so many interesting places and things to explore around the ancient city. It is believed that a third of it or more is still underground.
Mum and I painted and sketched for the morning around the treasury making all sorts of friends. The one thing I love about Jordan is the people. They are the most generous, down to earth friendly people.
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| One of my Mothers Paintings from the trip |
