Here we are then, possibly the highlight of the trip for both of us. This was my second visit to Petra, I visited the place in the late 70s while working a Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Aqaba was a couple of hours drive away and our regular watering hole from a dry Saudi (I say that with tongue in cheek). Petra was the result of a rare cultural weekend.
Pic 1. Just down from the town of Petra and just inside the entry gate stands this imposing collection of tombs.
Pic 2. This is the entry to the Siq (gorge) that leads into the Nabataean City Petra.
Pic 3 to 6. These shots show some of the gorge walk into Petra, the side walls are up to 80mtrs high and the walk in is well over 1 kilometre and in places the gorge is less that 4mtrs wide. The rock colours in 5 and 6 are no fluke, as in certain lights it reflects a very red hue.
Pic. 7. A fleeting glimpse of what is to come through the final few yards of the gorge.
Pic 8. The prize of Petra, the Treasury. The use of the word 'treasury' lead the Bedouin Arabs to believe that the monument house ancient treasure and it now bears the scars of the bullets fired at it in a vain attempt to shatter the rock to find the treasure.
Pic 9. This is looking back at the exit from the Siq. Just look at the crowds and it was like this most places we had been up to now.
Pic 10. The camels arrive for the joy of the tourists. As all our guides advise, 1 Jordanian Dinar to get on and 20 to get off. And 'NO' neither of us went for a ride.
Pic 11. This guy has been sitting in this spot for close on 25 years to my knowledge. Every photo I have ever seen of the Treasury and on my own visits, he has been in the same spot. I must say he looks good for his age.
Pic 12. On my next load of pics, I'm taking you up here to the High Alter.