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Petra
The Treasury
We explored the breath-taking Nabatean city of Petra which was entirely carved out of the rose red sandstone about 2000 years ago and has
been voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Our walking journey took us past the Obelisk Tomb and then down through the Siq,
the narrow 1.2 kilometre gorge, that leads to Petra’s most impressive monument, the Treasury, which was carved out of the pale reddish
sandstone in the 1st century BC. It is very dramatic when you turn the corner in the Siq and see the Treasury for the first time.
Click on any photo to see a slideshow of larger versions
Street of Facades
We walked down the Street of Facades past the dozens of classical Nabatean ruins and tombs to the 3000 seat Theatre, the Royal Tombs,
the Colonnaded Street, the Temple, the Monumental Arch and the mighty Qasr el Bint Faroun (religious temple).
The Monastery
After lunch at the Basin restaurant we climbed about 900 steps up to the large, 1st century AD monument known as the Monastery and we
walked to the higher viewpoint for views over Wadi Araba. (2 hours including photo and viewing stops).
5th Century Byzantine church
We visited the 5thC Byzantine church with its lavishly decorated and very well preserved mosaics. We stopped at one of the stalls where I
purchased a book, ‘Married to a Bedouin’ written by Marguerite van Geldermalsen, (a New Zealand born nurse). Her son now mans the stall on
the Street of Facades. We then walked wearily back to the hotel. We then walked wearily back to the hotel.
