"This city rocks" a Petra Travel Page by dutchboycalledjan

My mother - in a wheel chair - wanted to visit Petra in Spring time. Thanks to the internet I managed to arrange it all: flights to and from Tel Aviv to Eilat, a taxi to and from the border, picked up at the Jordan border, a hotel and a guide. The last two thanks to Petra Pioneers - call Ahmed, 00962795589932, give the regards of Mr Jan -, when you want to spare you the trouble.

This is funny: entrance to Petra is free for disabled people, but there is no way they can manage it in a wheel chair. Take care: this is only for individuals, not with a group. So you should buy your tickets yourself and not let your guide do it!

Ahmed was able to negotiate a deal with the carriages driver to take my mother to the Restaurant at the end of the lost city. There she waited for us. We had lunch and went back, while my mother would be picked up at 16.00 h (16.30 h, in fact) . Negotiating takes a lot of patience, due to the different concessions, the scheduling of the way back and because they'll earn their money any way. Normally their concession is to the Treasury. From there the consession is for the donkey rides and the camels. This was out of the question for my mother. Also the tourist police tried to stop her, but let her through when she showed a disabled (parking) sign. Do not pay the driver until you're back, to insure you'll be picked up. My mother said: 'my son will pay you'.

It took some time - and some extra money (20 dinars) - but it was worth it.

The people who used to live here were expelled in 1983 (if i remember correctly) and made to live in a new, near by village. However, they are the only ones who are allowed to trade here. I suppose there is a lot of discussion between them, but it seems to work. The bedouins, this is a generic term for Jordanese who are not Palestines, start trading early in life: i bought a small rock from a cute little girl.