Weekend in Jordan

After a lovely weekend in Jordan, tempted though we were to stay for another week or two, we made it back to Lotan after waiting for either a bus or a car (whatever came first) for over an hour. It was well worth the wait, of course, because we spent one night in Aqaba, and one night in Petra (technically Wadi Mousa, just a few minutes away from Petra). I went with Marc, Healy, and Aaron, Chen was planning to come but realized at the last minute she needed her Israeli passport.

(From left: Aaron, Healy, Chen, and Marc, on our way...)

So there we were, a ferocious foursome, bargaining and busing with the best of them. We arrived in Aqaba thursday evening, and after shopping around for the best (aka cheapest) accomodations went out for a bit of falafel. As soon we hit the streets Aaron was offered food by a little boy and then we were approached by a roudy band of Hashemites. The Jordanians really enjoyed playing music on their phones, dancing in the streets, videotaping us awkwardly waving at them, and were a bit overly friendly. They took us to a nargilah-bar on the beach and showed us a good time until we couldn't stand it and retreated.

(Me dancing with Jordanians)

(Aaron arm-wrestling a Hashemite)

(From left: Mahmoud, Marc, Balbel, Aaron, and Healy)

After our evening in Aqaba we arose early to make our way to Petra, the ancient Nabatean city where 'Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade' was filmed (the temple scene). We spent two days exploring Petra, where we learned that the Jordanians we met in Aqaba were not alone in their love of playing music from their cell phones and dancing to it. We also learned about the Roman takeover of Petra, and Happy Donkeys. Overall we decided we could have easily spent many more days exploring (especially Marc) and were sad to leave.

(Leaving Aqaba)

(Our arrival to Wadi Mousa- Isn't Marc cute?)

(Playing around on our first day in Petra)

(Giddyup!)

(Marc hydrating himself, Healy resting, and Aaron dehydrating himself)

(Healy hugging a tree)

(The four of us pausing in the long gorge entrance to Petra, or- 'Siq')

(A peak at the (Indiana Jones) facade, actually "Al Khazneh" or "the Treasury")

(Tourists and townsfolk- aka camels- enjoying the view)

(Healy and Aaron strolling through the streets of Petra)

(Speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil)

(Princes of light...)

(Queens of shadow...)

(On our way to the monastary)

(We stopped for tea with this woman on the way)

(Marc and I in front of the monastary)

(Tai Chi Superman)

(Aaron, Healy, and me taking a break)

(Napping next to eternity)

Worm day!

Our most interesting lesson of the day was about vermicompost, aka organic matter that is chewed up by worms and turned into fertile soil.

(Our lesson with Mike about worm-care)

(In my notes from class...)

(Everyone hard at worm-work: separating the worms from the ready compost)

(Ewww! Mikey that's gross!)

(A closer look at the little buggers)

(Healy returns the thankful worms to their home)

FireDome

What better to do on a Sunday night than ring around the campfire? Some past Lotan volunteers have conveniently built a geodesic dome around a mud fire-pit. You can see here how we happily utilized this renewable resource...

Purim party

One of everybody's favorite holidays was today: Purim! While some people scrambled at the last minute to put together a costume, and some people went purim crazy, a good time was had by all. The megillah reading was followed by a theatrical production and costume contest before the usual 'dance like crazy' in the pub. Luckily we are starting class a bit later tomorrow because, as they say, everyone gets 'crunky' on purim. In addition to the holiday, it was Yael's birthday, AND a lunar eclipse! Magic in the air brought happiness everywhere...

(The Megillah reading... Hama-AHHHHH!)

(Chen and her 'boyfriend')

(Sierra and Olga)

(Happy birthday Yael!)

(Our fearless leaders: Captain Compost and Zorro)

(Marc and I striking the tiger pose)

TGIF-Hike

In our free time today, Marc, Aaron, Yael and I decided to take a day hike out of the kibbutz. We headed west (not east...) toward the nearest Wadi (mini-valley carved out by flash floods). We had been told there was a few bunkers around there, and were aiming for the highest one. The bunkers are remnants of less peaceful times with Jordan and are now completely inactive. Tonight we will have Shabbat dinner (always a favorite) and then head to the pub later on.

(Before heading out on our hike, I learned to 'toot my own didge'!)

(Aaron and Yael on our way up)

(The resilient Acacia Tree)

(Where are we?)

(Arabian Aaron squinting in the sun)

(Lotan from above)

(Enjoying the view from the bunker)

(Yael and I taking it easy)

(Aaron and Yael looking cool)

(Desert moon)

(Heading home)