FUN-travel: Holy Land – Petra, Jordan – Day 4
April 3, 2013 by Susan Clarke
The ABC’s of The Holy Land
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Trip Day 58 – Thursday, March 28 – Petra, Jordan – full sun, high 60’s, breezy – perfect for walking/ hiking
- 6:30 – wake up
- 7:30 – get up – down for good, hot cappuccino & typical breakfast of fresh fruit & sandwich to go for picnic later
- 9:15 – meet our guide for 2 hr tour
The Treasury
- 1st stop – As-Siq – ancient main entrance impressive long, deep, narrow gouge over half mile long – hemmed by massive cliffs 250 ft high – bizarre looking colorful rock formations, water channels cut into cliffs & votive niches carved into rock
- 2nd stop – The Treasury – pride & joy of Petra & most beautiful – 90’ wide x 130’ high – carved 1st century BC as a tomb of important Nabataean King (almost 2 miles from main gate)
- 3rd stop – street of facades– rows of tombs w/intricate carvings
- 4th stop – the theatre – carved into solid rock, seats 3000 – end of guide, take off on our own
- 11:30 – arrive city center to start long trek up to top – over 1000 carved sandstone steps & pathways
- 5th stop – the monastery – most colossal temple & sacred sight
- 12:30 – continue on to highest viewpoint (can see to Jerusalem & Palestine across Jordan valley)
- 1:30 – picnic/rest break before trek back down
- 6th stop – 2:15 – church mosaic floors
- 7th stop – colonnaded street – temples, public buildings & shops
The Monastery
- 8th stop – royal tombs – series of carved temples in side of mountain w/commanding views across city center
- 5:00 – arrive back to hotel exhausted in need of cold beer
- TA – (totally awesome) – AAA rated ++ – a must see!
FF – (FUN-fact) – Petra dates back to 300 BC and in our opinion is on the same scope as Angkor Wat in beauty and scale.
More FF – The daily entrance fee is almost $70 pp and includes a horse ride back from As-Siq to the main gate.
More FF – President Obama was here on March 23rd and was a very positive experience for the Jordanians.
Tombs