Petra

Petra is considered one of the newer wonders of the world. Compared to the Pyramids, perhaps it is more recent, but it harkens back hundreds of years before the Common Era, has a fascinating history, and is vast. One sees the images of the Treasury or the Monastery, perhaps not realizing that they are far apart and surrounded by centuries of hundreds of other carvings – temples, tombs, artwork, and caves for habitation – in a region that would be remarkable if only for the fascinating rock formations!

However, before we got there we stopped to check out an old train that harkens back (only) to the time of Lawrence of Arabia. Note the difference between first class and coach! This batch also includes some pix from a Google Maps screen shot, a roadside souvenir shop, a delicious sandwich, and more, etc…

This batch shows our first views of Petra and the surrounding area, and our tour guide Adnan droppin’ some knowledge – and there’s a lot to know. My fellow travelers insist that the last photo is not of a fossil because these rocks predate life on Earth! But hey…?

One of the best parts of visiting Petra is walking through the Siq, an ancient serpentine canyon, before arriving at the Treasury. In addition to the water system running along the side, the siq also has a variety of carvings (can you find the camel and the man?)…

After walking two kilometers from the entrance at the Visitor’s Center, one arrives at the Treasury, a comparatively well preserved carving in stone. The history is complex, but one should at least know about the Nabataeans, the people who initially built Petra over centuries, but abandoned the region after an earthquake in the fourth century AD (CE), leaving the area unoccupied for over 1000 years.

Interestingly, the columns testify to the influence of ancient Greece & Rome, although this was not always understood by the Bedouins who discovered the area later. Wrongly thinking the place was made by Egyptians, they raided the tombs looking for treasure.

The pictures at the end of this batch represent the work of David Roberts…

Going beyond the iconic Treasury, one becomes astounded at the quantity of other carvings – tombs, temples, theater, and more – that can be found throughout the area…

This next batch focuses on the Byzantine Church at Petra featuring ancient mosaic floors, and a bit more…

Again, thanks to our WhatsApp group, I’ve got a very random batch of pix taken by my fellow travelers…

The next day was completely free to go back and explore more of Petra. However, exhausted from the previous day, I got a late start and went first to the Petra Museum, right next to the entrance…

This time, to save my legs & feet – but still getting some exercise – I rode a horse for the first kilometer, then walked the Siq again to the Treasury and beyond. I went past the large temple to the base of the trail to the Monastery, and after a coffee, I hired a mule to ride up on. Note the swirling sandstone rock formations – a theme that will continue…

The mule ride helped somewhat in preserving my energy, but of course there were moments of terror when “Shakira” walked on the very edge of a wall. Nonetheless, I made it to the monastery intact, met some of our group, and walked further to the very top of the hill. The donkey at the bottom of this batch brayed loudly from his majestic spot in a huge temple near the top and across from the monastery.

This next batch shows the view from the top, and that donkey again. I gave it some water, and wished it luck. You can see a corinthian capital tucked into a niche there, as well as the main alter inside that temple.

I also encountered a Bedouin shop keeper and bought a lil’ sumpin’ from her.

BTW, the swirling sandstone beneath the “best place in Jordan” was the ceiling of that temple at the top! Lots of pix of the view from a mule…

Then, I rode Shakira back down (led by her owner/handler Audi), I had some refreshment at the bottom, then contracted with Audi and his buddy to ride a different mule, “Tequila,” up to the “High Place of Sacrifice” at the top of Jabal al-Madhbah featuring two obelisks, and a sacrificial temple.

On the way, my phone screen went dark and I fiddled with it from the back of my mule and inadvertently triggered the SOS emergency notification protocol. My new buddies fixed my phone and I texted Mary Lynn and Nancy (my emergency contacts) that all was well, it was a false alarm.

However, that didn’t happen right away and ML went into action in the dead of night in California calling the London office of Intrepid, who in turn contacted Adnan, our tour leader. Meanwhile, my mule bros had left me to walk up the rest of the very steep way on my own.

At some point I encountered a very random Bedouin family having tea under a rock. They summonsed me because Dad needed a charge from my power pack. So, I obliged, letting him plug in while I continued to turn down offers to sit and have some tea. (I had goals, and had to call Adnan.)

Then, my phone rang, the Intrepid rep wanting to know if I was OK. He overheard the Bedouins speaking Arabic and asked to speak to them. I gave my phone to the Dad, and he had a long conversation, about what I’m not sure. But the guy was assured that I was in fact OK. What a moment!

Then, having hiked to the very top of the High Place of Sacrifice, I encountered another Bedouin “shop” keeper and bought a lil’ sumpin’ from her too, and we had a long conversation.

While spectacular scenery dominates this batch, meaningful encounters with kind people make it one my most memorable in Jordan so far…

After that adventure, I made it back to the valley floor, then checked out some of the Royal Tombs, before meeting a few of the group at the Cave Bar for some well-earned refreshment.

This last batch ends at our dinner spot. After two rigorous days walking around Petra – and still not seeing all of it – I was spent, exhausted, and almost getting sick. I slept…