Petra

After these 2 enjoyable days in Wadi Rum, we travelled to Petra. Petra is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges. It is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites. Situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea and inhabited since prehistoric times, the rock-cut capital city of the Nabateans, became during Hellenistic and Roman times a major caravan centre for the incense of Arabia, the silks of China and the spices of India, a crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. An ingenious water management system allowed extensive settlement of an essentially arid area. It's just amazing to see how they lived and still live in the caves and which beautiful buildings they built 2000 years ago. Really impressive. During our visit in Petra we met some nice Bedouins, who are working with the tourists and rent donkeys.  Seating on the stairs of a old building of Petra I met Jashar and his donkey "Nicetomeetyou". We didn't want to rent any donkey or camel, so he just invited us for tea up on the hill. After tea we all get friends and had good discussions about living in the cave,  what his family does, and about life in Jordan. They took us around and made again tea for everyone.  In the end we all ride a donkey and enjoyed our time with the climbing up hills, sunset over Petra and riding back to the village of the Bedouins. We had tea with their family and friends. Next day we met our new friends again and spend the day together discovering Petra with donkeys. As Stefanie did not feel well on this day, and Jonathan was exhausted because of the hiking, I went alone (note: I didn't hike at all, I was just riding the donkey the whole day =) )with them to their families and had traditional beduin dinner. Really just an incredible experience in Petra as we could see that historical place in such an amazing way.

Sharing is caring - the Bedouins are really living this sentence. Tea is their life drug - with sugar, a lot of sugar. Never met so unbelivebel friendly and hosting people towards strangers.

Wadi Rum

From Aqaba we travelled to Wadi Rum,  national park in the desert of Jordan. Beautiful place in the middle of nowhere.  Just rocks, Beduins, and a lot of sand.
We stayed there in a desert camp and had the first day a look around by feet.  Rocks in different oranges,  camels walking around and Beduins with sheeps.
We had a great evening in the tent and did beduin tea on a fire somewhere in the desert and watched stars.  Amazing skyline with a lot of stars =) Bigger and more because of the darkness.

Next day we got up early and enjoyed a big Jeep and Hiking/Climbing Tour through the desert. What shall I say - it's just amazing 💗.

Eilat to Aqaba - Jordan

The Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, borders Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Yesterday we walked into Jordan and are staying here in Aqaba until tomorrow. 

Israel was just amazing.  We could even spend more time in this beautiful and very special country.  It was impressive to see the three main culture leving together and how religions can effect people's life. If you are on the street and see Jewish people with their style of life,  Muslims Women who shape their whole body and face, or modern people which are going around in the same street with shorts and tops. And all of them are beliving in something else - but all religios people are beliving in a god. How many conflicts they have because of different religions. We met a lot of nice people, Jewish,  Muslims and Christians. They all try to live their life in peace. Unfortunately not everyone is thinking like that. 

Currently we are in a beach club in Aqaba - the only place you can swim and enjoy the sea. The city its self is not that nice. A lot of Arabic Men around and you are not feeling that comfortable as a woman even if you are wearing long shirts and trousers. 

It's over 35 C° so very very hot.

Jerusalem to Eilat

We travelled from Jerusalem to Eilat by bus. 4 hours through the desert, along the amazing Dead Sea. Eilat is a big tourist place,  very modern and western. 
Stayed there in a nice hostel for 2 nights and enjoyed the red sea.

Bethlehem

Bethlehem - the holy city were Jesus was born. We just did a day trip to look around and to see the church of birth.

Little city near Jerusalem with a nice market and the famous church. Kids running around, people which want to sell you things and a lot of tourists. There I met Jacob.  Sweet little boy, was walking next to me and asked: what's your name and where are you from? After my response he told me. Katrina, I love you.  This gorgeous little boy of maybe 7 years, is just a little example of Israels population.  They are all very kind and try everything they can to help you. If you need an information they will even call their family if they personally can not help you.

Jerusalem

We arrived today in Jerusalem - capital city of Israel.  First adventure: we were taking the tram to our hostel from the central bus station in Jerusalem,  where we arrived this morning from Nazareth. Unfortunately the police stopped the whole station and everybody had to leave. A bomb disposal policeman officer arrived and took care of the suspect unattend languages.
In the end there was nothing to be worry about - a old lady left her things unattend.

We already had some time to look at the city.  Very very impressive. A lot of Jewish people are located here, but of course also all other religions.  It is considered holy to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Jews consider Jerusalem a holy city because it was their religious and political center during Biblical times and the place where the Temple of God stood. Christians consider Jerusalem holy because many events in the life of Jesus Christ took place here. Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad rose to heaven from there.

We had a walk to the Western Wall, where people pray and leave massages for god. You can see a lot of policemen around which secure the people. Because it is so an holy and religious place for different religions, it is the perfect place for many conflicts.  

Sea of Galilee - Tiberias

We travelled yesterday to the Sea of Galilee. Many of Jesus miracles are occurred here including his walking on water, calming the storm, the disciples and the boatload of fish, and hisfeeding five thousand people.

Beautiful place, a little bike tour helped us to look around.

With levels between 215 metres and 209 metres below sea level, it is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake overall (after the Dead Sea, a saltwater lake).