Petra

Poor Michel has got my cold something bad.  We have been in Wadi Musa (town that supports Petra) for 4 days and only been to Petra one day and one evening.  The rest of the time has been spent resting as there isn't much to do around here other than Petra.

Now, that being said, Petra was amazing!!!!  The evening viewing is done by candlelight (1500 of them) that guides you down the path to the Siq (the canyon that leads to the Treasury) and then lights up the courtyard in front of the Treasury.  The Treasury is the iconic monument of Petra and is what most people picture when the think of Petra.

The evening was wonderful.  Once we got to the Treasury, we were served Bedouin Tea (will make this for everyone when we get home) and got a performance by a lute player, then a gentleman playing something like a small guitar and a storyteller.  It was a great way to have our first glimpse of Petra.

When we went during the day, we decided to rent horses with guides and were taken up a "back" path to the Sacred High Place (saved us having to go up 800+ steps - a good idea when your cardio system is compromised by a cold).  We then walked down a back path with very few tourists and saw some sights many of the tourists don't bother with.  Then it was a walk back towards the Treasury and home.  I will let the pictures do the talking.

However, there are some things to keep in mind:

• The vast majority of the buildings are carved out of the rock face.  Only a very few are built as free standing buildings.
• Most of the spaces that are built into the walls are tombs - including the Treasury.



By going the "back" way, we got to see the
green houses that supply the Visitor's Centre
and Wadi Musa.

I forgot my cowboy hat at the hotel!!!!!

Standing almost directly over the top of the Treasury!

The view from over the Treasury.  These tourists are admiring
the Treasury from the other side of the courtyard. The big "crack"
in the middle of the picture is the Siq - the main way to enter Petra.

A part of the path leading down the Jebel (mountain)
from the High Sacred place - also carved out of the
Jebel.

These colors are naturally occurring!  It is amazing!

The Roman Soldiers Tomb from inside another tomb -
I can't remember the name!?



Opps, another tomb!!! From high up on the
High Sacred Place Jebel

One of the few free standing buildings in Petra.



Part of the Great Temple - nice pic Michel!

A little wild life

Royal Tombs

A different kind of wild life!!

More tombs - some are being buried by sand
being washed down by rains.

The Treasury from ground level

The Treasury from inside the Siq.
I am not sure how Michel managed to get
this picture without tourists in it - there are
thousands of them.