Thursday, Nov. 19 -- It somehow seems too bad that Petra is best known as the location of an Indiana Jones movie, since it is so much more than that. Again, very much like Canyonlands in Utah, with a long gorge, the Siq, winding for about a half mile between two very, very tall and close red walls. You twist around through this area, gasping at the beauty every time you come around a turn, and then you hit the Treasury, a structure actually carved into the red rock. It's quite breathtaking, with Corinthian columns, a broken pediment, statues of various goddesses and decorations including wine glasses and roses. Petra actually was an ancient city populated by the Nabateans, who were traders. Oversized water cisterns that were too large to support the local population are believed to have accommodated travelers and their camels; therefore Petra is thought to have been on a route used by traders in spices and other goods. The Jordanians had to re-do the water system after 1963, when a group of French tourists were killed in a flash flood, just like they have in Utah.
The ancient city also accommodated tombs, storefronts, "apartment" residences, and high on a hill, a monastery. We climbed the 780 steps to the top, where we had a panoramic view of Jordan and Israel, including the Negev, which I've often read about but never had any idea of its location. It's pretty barren out there, but the view was awesome.
Throughout the old city, camels, horses and donkeys are available for transport, as well as horse-drawn carriages. The "road" is built of enormous cobblestones, so it's a pretty bumpy ride. Desperate for some exercise, we opted to walk.
If you've ever heard of the book "Married to a Bedouin," the author and her son have a little "shop" in Petra, one of about a hundred where they sell various trinkets, and her book. She wasn't there the day we visited, but her son was. It was another glorious day, and a little more tiring since we walked about five miles and did a little hike.
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