Petra, Part Three - Camel Rides

From the Treasury, one can take a camel ride to the Monastery, an even larger carving, further into the park. We didn't make it all the way to the Monastery, deciding we needed to save something for our next trip. We already have several hikes planned, including a grueling trip to the top of Mt Hor to see Aaron's tomb, the burial place of Moses' brother. 

If you don't want to go as far as the Monastery, then you also have the option to mount a camel right there at the Treasury. We offered this option to the kids, and Pete leaped at it. He was the only one. 

It reminded me of a similar moment in Brazil. When we stopped for lunch on the way back from Itiquira waterfall, there was a man offering horseback rides on the vacant lot next door. We couldn't talk Sam into it, but Peter -- then only two or three -- agreed without hesitation...much as he did this past weekend. 

After the Treasury, we walked a little further to the Theater, a Roman-style open-air amphitheater carved directly into the stone. That was our turn-around point. We had been in the park for a few hours. We decided it was time to head back to the hotel and cool off in the pool. But not without taking a donkey caravan back to the Treasury.

As you might imagine, it is quite difficult to take pictures while riding on the back of a donkey (while also holding Clementine!), but I did get this shot of Sam before we headed out. (Notice the Johnny Depp / Captain Jack Sparrow-looking donkey-wrangler in yellow on the left.)