Aqaba, Jordan - Magnificent Petra - April 3 and 4
Friendly Jordanians, scenic port areas, and beautiful coffee-colored desert hills, set the stage for Aqaba, Jordan's only coastal city.
But for most visitors to Aqaba, the big draw is nearby Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
We had the most fabulous day on a private company tour to Petra.
Petra is a famous archaeological site in Jordan's southwestern desert. Dating to around 300 B.C., it was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Accessed via a narrow canyon called Al Siq, it contains tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone cliffs, earning its nickname, the "Rose City."
The Siq opens up to Petra's most magnificent facade, the Treasury, or El Khazna, carved out of the pink sandstone rock. What a sight to behold!!
Due to earthquakes, only one freestanding building remains. The buildings and tombs carved into the rock have survived mostly intact.
Because we had plenty of time to explore Petra, we left our quide once in the valley and set out past ampitheaters, royal tombs, and temples to attempt to climb the 880 uneven, carved stairs to view the other magnicifent facade in Petra, the Monastery building. I didn't think that I could make it the entire way. But I hung in there and was rewarded with the sight that few visitors get to see, the Monastery Building!!!
After relaxing in the shade and the view, we headed back down the many stairs. At the bottom, we hired a camel jockey, Sif, with his two camels, Daisy and ZuZu, to ride us through the valley and back to the Treasury Bldg. It was a great ride and Sif acted as a guide pointing out many sights as he walked along side of us high up on our camels.
After dismounting, photos, and goodbyes, we walked back the slightly uphill climb through the Siq and the entry area, to our group meeting point at Petra's Visitor Center.
A marvelous uplifting day in magnificent Petra (and 26,000 steps !!!!!)
The Siq
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