The most familiar aspect of Petra: the Treasury of the nomad Nabataeans. The artistry is beautiful and unbelievable, because it was carved out of sandstone. Because they were nomads, they had a roman influence because of the Ottoman Empire.
Here is an example of one of the hundreds of tombs they contain. This is one of the facáde tombs, because of the Aztec-like steps were symbols to lead to Heaven. But you had to be prestigious to have one carved.
The rock is sandstone, and the Nabataeans were believed to have lived during the 4th century B.C. The layers of rock show layers and layers of centuries. Something found in Petra, but did not see, is the shrine, or burial site, of Aaron.
Here is the opening from the pathway into Petra, to the the Treasury, famously known for Indiana Jones.
The camels were not as bad as the donkeys. Those almost took me out a few times 😁
A Jordanian flag. The pride Jordan has for their country is inspiring- they are the 3rd largest country in producing Phosphate, and it’s about the size of a state from the U.S. And the country was only established in 1919.
We were pretty legitimate hikers in Petra. I drank 2-3 liters of water, and a Jordanian woman taught me how to tie my scarf with my hair for sun protection, which proved to be ineffective for everywhere but my head. I have the sunburn to prove it! We hiked a total of 10 miles, and could see the Monastery, another place for the Nabataeans in Petra.
This view made the work worth it. It took a lot of patience, and it paid off. All you could feel was the great breeze, and all you could hear was the echoing of the goats in the valley.
The Monastery:
From the mosaic floor; in between the Monastery and the Treasury. The mosaic tiles were preserved and the Roman influence was evident in the architecture.
The view from our hotel in Petra was stunning.
Greeted with sweet juice. It felt like a victory drink from the trek of the day ☺️
One of the best meals we had. Beef with a creme sauce (we’re still talking about it days later), rice, vegetables with oil, hummus and pita, pistachio pudding, and baklava; a soft flaky roll with honey and nuts inside of it.
Not only was this Turkish coffee (the espresso of French press), it was also Arabic coffee. Cardamom is added to the beans when grinding, which gives it a earthy, but flavor.
Midnight in Petra. The hilly, lit-up side to the left reminded me of Edinburgh, which has an equally beautiful nightlife.
Love from Petra
Zoe in Israel 