Petra – Truly a Wonder

Ah, Petra…how to even explain.  This place was absolutely magical, it was alive with history and a beauty that can’t be captured on film.  We loved it here.  For me, it has to be one of the most rewarding ‘Wonders of the World‘ to visit; albeit, one of the most expensive but it’s worth the money and the trip.  Dan and I spent two days and one night, wandering, hiking and scrambling among Petra’s expansive cliffs, caves and trails- it wasn’t long enough.  As we drove away, I could hardly contain my sadness but I know, we will be back.  Next time with more money and maybe even some hiking shoes:)  Sorry, we took so many pictures but I wish I would have taken more.

Petra, Day 1.  We were up, bright and early, ready to explore Petra and see the famous Treasury before all the tourists showed up.  The sun is just waking up for the day. The picture above is of the famous Djinn Blocks or Spirit Blocks, the mysterious monuments built by the Nabataeans in the first century AD.

Oh my, the famous Siq, a natural canyon created by earthquakes and flash floods that twists and turns for 1.2 km before it opens up to The Treasury.  Yes, it was breathtaking, beautiful and all that but it is the only way in and out of Petra.  So, after a long 8 hour day of hiking in the desert heat you’re looking at a minimum 2-3 km walk back to your car or bus.  Not so nice.

The Treasury!!!  We beat the crowds and were able to enjoy it in peace, aside from the generator that was heating the water for tea at the vendor close by.  Hmmm, have you ever heard of fire…that would be more authentic and less noisy.  Well, all in all, The Treasury didn’t disappoint, it was breathtaking in its sheer size and impossible detail.  Though actually a tomb, the Treasury gets it’s name from a legend that an Egyptian Pharaoh hid a treasure in the urn in the middle of the second level.  The locals obviously took the tale to heart as seen by the bullet pock marks that cover the urn – awesome story!

   

Some of the many, many caves that are carved into the cliff faces all throughout Petra.  Up until the early 80’s, local Bedouin lived in these caves before they were relocated to a newly built settlement outside of the Unesco World Heritage Site.  It’s sad really, but most still come for the day to herd their livestock, sell their trinkets and socialize.

A snap of The Royal Tombs.  A sequence of impressive tombs built for various Kings and Queens throughout history- I won’t bore you with the details, though they were beautiful and so colourful.

We loved all the colours of the stone cliffs throughout Petra.  It is known as The Rose City, when if fact there are so many different colours- mauves, reds, white, pinks, blues, blacks and yellow.  Beautiful.

Dan takes a breather during the long hike to The Monastery.  Um, maybe climbing hundreds of stairs at high noon isn’t the brightest idea. Nor is taking a breather with your feet dangling off a cliff hundreds of metres high… *sigh*

What?  I’m not tired…just taking photos :)

Finally, we reach The Monastery. Again, actually a Tomb built by the Nabataeans in the 3rd century BC but it was thought to used as a Monastery by the Byzantines later on.  Much bigger and equally as impressive as The Treasury but much, much harder to reach, so less tourists.  Nice.

OK- our hour long up hill hike wasn’t enough, we had to go higher still to see the view of the Monastery and the surrounding area.  No wonder the locals kept Petra a secret for so long.

Again, another long-ass hike to the top of the hill behind The Treasury.  The climb was at times difficult (a little scary if you are afraid of heights, luckily we aren’t) but totally worth the climb for the peace and quiet, away from any other tourists.

Our friend Daniel- hi Daniel! introduced us to a lovely tea seller, and a perfectly peaceful, quiet spot to enjoy our picnic lunch and some Bedouin tea.  The picture above is of the owners house, he is the last remaining Bedouin that lives in Petra.  After years of battles with Unesco, some friends in high places and I’m sure a little luck, he has been granted special permission to live in, and run his tea shop, within Petra.

I feel awful, I can’t remember his name but I felt special and privileged to meet the only remaining resident in Petra.   He still lives in the caves that his father, and grandfather lived in before him.  Awesome.

One last shot of the colours of the stone in Petra.  Ah- after writing this post, I am sad:(  I miss it and want to go back…,,,Hmmmmm, maybe we can go back?