If the wiki link above is too long, suffice it to say Petra was a vibrant and important city for centuries. Its decline during Roman rule was exacerbated by many earthquakes, and went unseen and unnoticed by non-Arabs until 1812.
Let's start off with a bit of a giggle, shall we?
Where is Harrison Ford when you need him?
It's about a mile walk into Petra. There are donkey carts and horses you can ride to go back and forth, but the walk did me good. The first part of the path, before the Siq, is open and lined with ancient carvings and building sites.
A little friend sunning himself
I get goosebumps thinking how old these facades and the caves behind them are.
The entrance to the Siq- a dim and narrow gorge that hides Petra from the winds, desert sands and civilization.
(Yes, that is a guard dressed as a Roman soldier)
Check out the stairs carved up the side of the rock.
Perspective
I'd heard fig trees were hardy. Growing out of a cleft in the rocks.
I wonder just how old this tree is....
The Romans, those clever sorts, carved out channels from the springs to the ancient city--for both drinking water and bath/washing/animal water. It's a downhill distance of about half a mile. Barely visible are the ancient tiles that covered the exposed carved pipe to keep the drinking water clean.
Almost through- the end is starting to peek through.
And VOILA! Al Khazneh (the Treasury).
What you might ask, enabled me to get THIS angle?
TaDa! Elizabeth of Arabia strikes again. Struggling to get her camera off her shoulder so the camel driver could take my photo.
Cutie-pie Crystal photographer Grace was a trouper along with me.
Camels are---kinda---well---Cute.
Old meets new.
This little donkey was taking a snooze in the heat.
So much of Petra has yet to be uncovered. Our guide explained that the hills are littered with tomb entrances that are covered as this one is. This doorway extends another 15 feet down below the present road grade.
Too much of Petra to see. We had two hours and could have spent two weeks exploring.
This old exposed root reminded me of an alligator smiling...
And we ran into a few of our crew member friends on the (somewhat more taxing) walk back up out of Petra.
This was my first taste, if you will, of the sights I was to experience in the Holy Land. It was profoundly moving.
If you get the chance to visit Petra- do it! You won't be disappointed. If you want a taste of what the Bedu life is like, read Marguerite van Geldermalsen's "Married To a Bedouin". It's a fascinating biography of life in Petra in the 1970's.
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