Petra

Undoubtedly the most famous attraction in Jordan is the Nabatean city of Petra, nestled away in the mountains south of the Dead Sea. Petra was the capital of the Nabateans -Arabs who dominated the lands of Jordan during pre-Roman times. They carved these temples, tombs and elaborate buildings out of solid rock. The Victorian traveler and poet Dean Burgon gave Petra this description "Match me such a marvel save in Eastern clime, a rose-red city half as old as time."

The easiest access to Petra is through the Siq, a winding cleft in the rock. WIth our guide, Rudy, we rode horses to the Siq, about 1/2 mile. As you enter the Siq, the entrance narrows to about 5 feet wide (a scene right out of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The first sight is the Treasury, carved out of solid rock from the side of a mountain, and stands over 130 feet high. Although it served as a royal tomb, the Treasury gets its name from the legend that pirates hid their treasure there, in a giant stone urn which stands in the center of the second level. Believing the urn to be filled with ancient pharoanic treasures, the Bedouins periodically fired guns at it.

From there, it was up 900 steps to the Nabatean “High Place” with great views. Then, 900 steps down to Quasr al Bint.

Guide joke: “The reason Moses was lost in the wilderness for 40 years… he didn’t have a licensed guide”
We had lunch (more humus and beer) at the Forum Basin Restaurant.
At this point, Jelly legs John and Doughy legs Debbie opted to take camels to the theater.

The, the death march back up the hill - two miles to the visitors center
John bought a koffia.

Our driver took us to “free tea” in Wadi Musa where we had a political discussion with the owners. They call the Israeli leader -“Netanyahoo”—in Arabic, Netan means rotten, rancid…
Dinner. more buffet