the battle of the viewpoints (beyond the monastery at petra)
Day 63: As an aficionado of well-functioning and competitive markets, particularly on the tourist trail, I had to tip my hat to the two competing vendors slugging it out for market share just beyond the magnificent monastery at Petra. These two small businesses were pulling out all the stops to attract visitors to their viewpoint (cold drinks available).
Just uphill of the monastery begin a series of signs enticing visitors to the two viewpoints boasting certain advantages over the other. At first, the two trails seem to be heading in separate directions, leaving visitors a dilemna and feeling as if they have to make a decision based on the strength and veracity of the competing claims. It becomes clear, after a while, that the two viewpoints are not that far apart and essentially offer equivalent experiences.
It was only a matter of time, we thought, until one of the viewpoints proclaimed that it was the “Original and Best” spot, however, at the time of writing, this winning marketing claim had not yet occurred to either.
For the record, we chose the left hand track and enjoyed a nice can of Sprite, which someone had gone to the effort of carting all the way up the mountain, for half a dinar. Enterprise should, after all, be rewarded.
Related: The wonders of Petra
Posted: August 31st, 2007 by andrew under Jordan, Photos, Walking, Petra, Monastery.
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Comments
Comment from Liam Pounder
Time: 31 August 2007, 10:50 am
The marketing is reasonably new, I chose the “high place of sacrifice”, but back in 2004 the strategy was to wait until the customer arrived and then play a flute to entice. Advertising is new step…
Comment from Andrew B
Time: 2 September 2007, 11:26 am
Well, its lucky that we chose the right hand side path then! When we are in the same country again we can swap detailed notes and give our official endorsement to the winner. Glad you guys made it up to the Treasury viewpoint. Was the friendly goat herder in his little hut?
Comment from Darren
Time: 19 August 2008, 5:05 am
gosh all i remember is climbing up some rock and not being able to get back down again. until a local boy came along with a can of fanta and i was saved.
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