Petra, Jordan

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Jordan

Petra scare

Petra, the ancient city of Nabataeans. I came all this way to here and almost missed it  (we arrived there, our guide told us a story about lost tourists 20 years ago and 5 minutes later... but read the Petra scare).

Petra is as beautiful as you see an the pictures, the words cant express it beauty. The city of Petra is located near Wadi Mousa where it is believed Moses drew up water from the rock.

Nabataeans build Petra as a fort to defend themself form Greeks in 312 BC. Living  in this area  without water forced them to develop complex system of irrigation. They build bridges to facilitate their crossings, to support the pipes and to safeguard themself from floods. The systems were very advanced of huge water reservoirs and pipes carved in the rock. After its peak in around 60 BC, Nabataeans finally become Roman province in 106 AD

The Siq, is 1200 meters long natural gorge among rocks that reach in some places 100 meters. The walk is well worth is and at the end you are presented with the 'pearl' of Petra - al-Khazneh (the Treasury, which is really a tomb but it was beloved that it contains a treasures hance the name).

Petra is totally surrounded by the mountains. It has lots of carved in stone tombs, temples and houses, water reservoirs, magnificent 3500 sits Theatre. 

The other magnificent and even bigger then Treasury  is ed-Deir the Monastery. As all others, curved in stone. But be prepared for an hour walk uphill to see it, but its worth it.

Again, as so many places in Jordan this place is full of history that shaped the today's world as we know it.

Two hours late we were walking in the water up to ankles.

The houses carved in the mountain.

Some Egyptian influence.

Water is crucial in this hot climate. Nabataeans new that and were collecting any drop of it. Then they were using this carved in stone cannels to transport it to the central reservoirs.

With Patrick (the boy trapped with me and his father) 2 hours later when we come back