FUN-travel: New 7 Wonders of the World # 6 Petra, Jordan
June 25, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: New 7 Wonders of the World # 6 Petra, Jordan
#6 Petra, Jordan – March, 2013
- Petra dates back to 300 BC and in our opinion is on the same scope as Angkor Wat in beauty and scale. It is a marvelously preserved massive city of carved sandstone tombs and temples.
The Treasury
- As-Siq is the ancient main entrance that consists of an impressive long, deep, narrow gouge over half mile long, hemmed by massive cliffs 250 feet high. The bizarre looking colorful rock formations include water channels cut into the cliffs and votive niches carved into the rock.
- The Treasury is the most beautiful and most photographed monument standing almost 140’ high and 90’ wide. It was carved in 1st century BC as a tomb of important Nabataean King. To reach it you walk for almost two miles. On the way to the city center you pass the Street of Facades consisting of rows of tombs with intricate carvings.
- The city center includes The Theatre which seated 3000 and was carved into solid rock; Colonnaded Street which contained temples, public buildings, and shops; and The Royal Tombs which are a series of carved temples in the side of the mountain with commanding views across the city center.
- The Monastery is the most colossal temple and sacred site and the most difficult to reach. It requires walking up over 970 carved sandstone steps and pathways to reach it. You could spend several days hiking to see all of Petra.
Store in Petra
- In the summer of 2007, more than 90 million people cast their votes to determine which architectural marvels in the world deserved to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. There were a total of twenty-one landmarks vying for that title.
- Of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, only the Great Pyramids in Giza, Egypt still stand. The pyramids were given an automatic spot after infuriated Egyptian officials said it was a disgrace to have to compete for something that had belonged to their country for so long. I agree! We saw them in 2007.
The Monastery
- It is our goal to see all twenty-one landmarks. Also, Chris and I have collectively seen a lot of the twenty-one, however, not together. So the rule is, we go back and see all of them together!
New 7 Wonders of the World we’ve been to:
#1 Chichen Itza, Mexico – 2005
#2 Great Wall of China – 2010
#3 Machu Picchu, Peru – 2012
#4 Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 2012
#5 The Colosseum, Rome, Italy – 2012
New 7 Wonders of the World Runner Ups we’ve been to:
#9 Statue of Liberty, New York – 2005
#10 Sydney Opera House, Australia – 2005
#11 Hagia Sophia, Istanbul – 2007
#12 Acropolis, Athens – 2007
#13 Angkor Wat, Cambodia – 2010
#14 Eiffel Tower, Paris – 2010
#15 Stonehenge, England – 2011
#16 Easter Island, Chile – 2013
FUN-travel: Holy Land – Wadi Rum to Aqaba, Jordan w/transfer to Eilat, Israel – Day 6
April 5, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Holy Land – Wadi Rum to Aqaba, Jordan w/transfer to Eilat, Israel – Day 6
The ABC’s of The Holy Land
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Trip Day 60 – Saturday, March 30 – Wadi Rum to Aqaba, Jordan w/transfer to Eilat, Israel – sunny, breezy, high 80’s
Our Camp in Wadi Rum
- 7:30 – get up
- B – only powdered coffee,so drink tea
- 8:40 – jeep drive back to visitor center
- 9:00 – meet our driver Ali & continue on to Aqaba
- 10:00 – arrive & tour town – can see Saudi Arabia, Egypt & Israel across Red Sea
- 10:30 – Gloria Jean’s cappuccino break
Wadi Rum
- 12:00 – lunch – grilled grouper, pita, salad
- 1:30 – drive to border
- 1:45 – meet VP of tour company to assist in border crossing (has to get luggage carts from Israel side)
Wadi Rum “The Bridge”
- B – have to pay $12 pp for departure tax (already paid $30 pp for visas to enter)
- 2:00 – security check
- B – detect metal in 2 of our 5 bags – have to take everything out
- 2:45 – finally get through & met by our Israeli guide Colin
- 3:00 – arrive Blue Hotel
- A – free internet
- B – want a cold beer – it’s Kosher hotel & it’s Passover (so no yeast allowed – no beer or bread)
- 3:30 – Colin takes us 2 blocks to Eddies Hide-a-Way
- A – good really cold Stella Artois
- too tired for any more tours – desperately need to recharge my batteries
- 4:30 – take nap
- 6:30 – wake up for shower
- 7:30 – dinner @ Eddies Hide-a-Way – stuffed mushrooms – chef salad of pear, bleu cheese & walnuts – grilled salmon, Yarden Syrah – Israeli wine is pretty good
- 8:45 – Colin & wife Vickie join us – she orders liver pate & cheese cake, both VG (their son is Yuval is our waiter)
- A – great twinkle of city lights across the Red Sea of Aqaba
- 11:30 – fall into bed again
Wadi Rum Carvings
Jordan Recap – We should have stayed in Petra 3 nights which Stephen suggested inthe original itinerary. Each day was jammed full and we never got a rest, plus all of the driving was tiring. The hotels included breakfast and dinner (which they call half board) and we don’t think that is a good deal for us as we don’t eat that much food. It also doesn’t allow you to wander out and be part of the local experience.
FF – (FUN-fact) – We really liked Jordan and found the people to be extremely kind and caring. They like Americans and hope more will come to see their beautiful country.
Not so FF – We were warned to expect the Israel border crossing would be intense and it was.
Wadi Rum Sunset
FUN-travel: Holy Land – Petra to Wadi Rum, Jordan – Day 5
April 4, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Holy Land – Petra to Wadi Rum, Jordan – Day 5
The ABC’s of The Holy Land
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Trip Day 59 – Friday, March 29 – Petra to Wadi Rum, Jordan – full sun, warmer, high 80’s
Lunch in Wadi Rum
- 6:45 – wake up
- 7:00 – hot cappuccino & write postcards to grandkids
- C – we made it to our 6th New 7 Wonders of the World!
- 8:30 – packed up, ready to move on to next adventure – Ali our driver loads car
Little Petra
- 9:30 – drive to Little Petra – miniature version of Petra main city
- 9:45 – arrive Siq al Barid (“Little Petra”), the northern Nabatean suburb outside the bounds of the city of Petra – short walk includes simple temple, walk through gorge to facades of houses, temples, cisterns carved into rock face w/flights of steps shooting off in all directions
- 10:15 – depart for Wadi Rum
- 11:15 – hot tea break – way too touristy
- 12:30 – arrive first Wadi Rum camp for lunch
- 2:00 – arrive Wadi Rum visitor center to meet connection for overnight camp – transfer bags for 4X4 tour of moonscape terrain – T. E. Lawrence (AKA Lawrence of Arabia) described as “vast, echoing and God‐like”
- A – rock formation colors range from reddish orange to brown, to volcanic charcoal black, to sand white/beige
- A – outlandish shapes rise 2000’ from flat valley floor, like islands on sea of red sands
- 4:30 – arrive Wadi Rum Rum Stars Camp for dinner and overnight camping at fixed campsite – tent holds big bed w/room for luggage underneath – camp is @ full capacity of 35 people
Wadi Rum Rock Formations
- 6:15 – drive 25 mins for best sunset viewing
- 6:54 – sun sets
- 7:30 – dinner – variety of cold salads & zarb – chicken cooked underground – 3 tired round rack w/pot of vegetable stew on top
Little Petra,
- 8:30 – see moon rise & enjoy dazzling night skies
FF – (FUN-fact) – The erosion of the mountains over time creates shapes that have the appearance of everything from carved teak to dripping candle wax.
Not so FF – Days are too jamb packed with not enough time for R & R!
FUN-travel: Holy Land – Petra, Jordan – Day 4
April 3, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Holy Land – Petra, Jordan – Day 4
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
FUN-travel: Holy Land – Amman to Petra, Jordan – Day 3
April 2, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Holy Land – Amman to Petra, Jordan – Day 3
The ABC’s of The Holy Land
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Trip Day 57 – Wednesday, March 27 – Amman to Petra, Jordan – cloudy, overcast turns to sun – high 60’s
- 6:30 – wake up
- 7:00 – good, hot cappuccino – huge breakfast buffet – take to-go box for picnic lunch
- 8:35 – depart – drive to …
- 1st stop – 9:45 – Madaba – home to world’s largest collection of ancient mosaics – restored Byzantine and Herodian mosaics in Archaeological Park, Apostles’ Church and Madaba Museum – Mt. Nebo, from which Moses viewed the Promised Land, take in view of Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, Jericho and (on a clear day, which we didn’t have) distant spires and domes of Mount of Olives
St. George Church
- 2nd stop 10:30 – St. George Church – famous 6th Century map of the Holy Land – contemporary church with display of mosaics from the succession of pilgrimage churches on this venerated spot – find great souvenir store (owner ready to make deal)
- 11:30 – drive south, zigzagging thru barren sandstone mountains w/sparse bushes
- 12:30 – tea break – Wadi Mujib – couch & chairs along road overlooking reservoir – Yassar (owner) very engaging – have tea & “fig newton” homemade by his wife (1 of 2) – buy coral bracelet (he was so nice)
- 3rd stop – 1:45 – Karek Crusader Castle – high on hill w/sheer drop on 3 sides – built 1142
Karek Castle
- 2:30 – lunch – typical tourist buffet – $15 pp – just so-so – depart 3:10
- 4th stop – 5:00 – Dhana Old Village – 500 yrs old perched on hill overlooking pristine, silent landscape of mountains & valleys – in process of being re-done – (US is paying for this project) – have tea in local hotel
- 6:45 – check in to Movenpick – 5* – very nice & right outside main gate to Petra
- B – have to hurry & eat to see Petra @ night
- 7:00 – dinner buffet – quite good
View From Mt. Nebo
- 8:20 – experience Petra @ night (cost almost $18 pp & read this in a magazine as a must see) – pathway lit with candles set in sand in paper bags, the darkness and twinkling lights give it a sense of intrigue you don’t see during the day
- A – full moon illuminates mountain (creates beautiful silhouettes)
- B – have to navigate walk over packed earth, huge cobble stone like rocks & sandy gravel path
- 8:55 – arrive The Treasury (best known & most beautiful temple)
- 9:15 – chanting starts, followed by flute player, followed by singing
- BB (big bummer) – sitting too close to candle bag, knock it, starts on fire & burns my coat
- Another BB – that’s all there is! – they don’t light up the Treasury – Chris is totally disappointed
- 10:30 – arrive back to hotel
Petra at Night
FF – (FUN-fact) – We’ve seen a lot of children on school field trips this week. They separate the boys and girls and on you see them on alternate days.
More FF – They still have pull tabs on the soda cans here.