Departing the ship to meet our transfer to the Jordanian border was a journey like Moses.  One epic fail after another from being dropped at wrong location, getting back on a bus, walking in circles to go throgh security, then aback around for the luggage to be herded through a ramp that drops us on a main street. Many phone calls and correct directions finally got us to the “VIP” assist between Israel and Jordan. This involved unloading our luggage from one van walking 30 yards and putting it on another van. We arrived to the border crossing where our 
VIP representative is a pregnant woman who informs us that her water has broken and leaves.  Multiple texts, then transfers of luggage from one van to another, more security checks, more passport checks, until we actually are put in the van on the Jordanian side for a 2 hour drive to Jerash. The Pompeii of the East.  By this point we are toast, so I instruct Ziad to pretend we are 5 years old and have no attention span. He shortened this visit, then lunch and then the 5 hour drive to Petra.  I neglected to inquire about the amount of time required for all of this.

Our driver Malek has a 24 inch waist, and may weigh 90 lbs dripping wet. Yesterday, we had my grandmother driving, today we have a 16 year old boy. He would slam on the brakes for a speed bump, which are every 50 yards, then go as fast as he can to the next one and slam on the brakes again.

We arrived after dark to the town of Petra. Absolutely stunning deep in a valley. Our hotel, the Movenpick, is 5 star and resembles an Arabic palace. It is literally across the street from the entrance to the Petra site.  A glass of wine and a shower were heaven.