I'm out of shape

I mentioned the treasury as one of the most well known faces of Petra, today you'll see some pics of the Monastery, the other most well known face of Petra.

 Here is where I left yesterday, on the start of the hike to the Monastery.

 The first of many, many, many stairs.  Luckily, these stairs were in good shape, later I passed some guys fixing the stairs and we had to hike up the sloped rock.

There were a bunch of these "shops" on the way to the top.

Someone's house on the hike up.  Not quite sure how to get there, but I have no doubt the view was great.

 I love big boulders. If you live in Texas and haven't visited Pedernales Falls, I suggest you visit cause its awesome. 

Hike leveled out a little after 20 minutes, there is a rest stop a few minutes later where I stop for the first time and almost buy a bottle of snapple for $5.

 Stopped for the first time, man am I tired and out of shape, its just sad.

 View of the valley where I rested.

 That poor donkey.  There were only a few camels here, a couple of horses, but a bunch of donkeys.  They were smart too.  At the bottom I saw a guy say something and make a few click sounds and the donkey started walking away.  He just walked in the direction of the trail.  Later, on my way down, a donkey passed me.  No one guiding him, like that depressed donkey on winnie the poo, he just kept his head down and walked along the ridge, around people and up the stairs.

 This is the place I stopped to rest, surprised someone carried a baby up here.

 Here is the family.  I saw them a few times before this trail started around the other Petra facades but didn't expect them to hike up here.

 Another of the shops.  They call out "Happy hour, One dinar"  (1 jordan dinar = 1.4 US dollars) Then when you pick up something, they say "For you, special price, 3 dinar" When you ask about the happy hour 1 dinar they just mentioned they grab some small rock or old wore coin from a basket. Sometimes some other small piece of crap but they all start out the same way.  If you ever visit this half of the world or any place that wouldn't exist if it wasn't for tourists, never buy something the first time you see it.  Odds are you will see the same thing a few more times, and you can use the prices they offer the first couple of times to haggle a lower price from another guy.  I still hate haggling, but I am getting better at it.  For instance, I found something I wanted to get my mom and he wanted 6 dinars at first.  I showed a little interest and looked at the other stuff he had.  After picking a few different designs of that type of gift, I talked him into giving me three for 8 dinar.  Now I also have a gift for my current sister-in-law and my soon to be other sister-in-law.

 Nice view from the last rest stop before arriving at the Monastery. 

 Finally, here it is.

 Sitting in the shade at a snack shop, I didn't mind paying $5 for a gatorade.

 While not as awesome as the treasury, it is beautiful.

Here are some random pictures of me, I read its good to sometimes take pictures at an angle instead of directly in front of something, which is apparently boring.

I hope you liked seeing pics of my Petra trip.