Petra, Jordan: November 2003

Petra, Jordan: November 2003

LEFT Petra by night: From the entrance of the As-Siq (gorge), we had to walk single file through two lines of candles through the gorge, duplicating the same journey locals made long ago, and emerging in front of the treasury where the whole floor area was also covered with lit candles. It's an eerie/ethereal experience, hearing the echoes of each others footsteps, and occasional whispers. 'Twas a tad hazardous though with the uneven paving. We weren't allowed to take photos or talk during the walk, so as not to spoil the experience for others.

In front of the treasury, a Bedouin played traditional flute music, followed by the telling of the history of Petra and the significance of the candlelit walk, and tea drinking.

RIGHT View from outside Sela Hotel overlooking the buildings in Wadi Musr towards the mountains of Petra.

BELOW During the walk through the As-Siq, we would be constantly plunged into cool, dark and constrained areas, and then suddenly emerge into the most amazingly open, colourful and light areas. Around every corner, we kept anticipating our first peek of the Treasury.

ABOVE RIGHT Along both sides of the gorge, a drain was built out of the walls to catch rainwater (where the solid line is along the bottom part of the left hand-wall). Our guide, Talal, tells us fables have it that a princess once said she would marry whoever created the best water system for Petra. Someone took up the challenge, but allegedly took so long that by the time it was finished, she had either already married someone else or had died (if anyone else that was actually along on the tour can remember which, please let me know!)

LEFT At last, our first sighting of the Treasury! RIGHT The Treasury, carved out of the side of a mountain

LEFT The beginning of a carved stairway and path leading up towards the High Place of Sacrifice. Several donkeys will saunter up and down the stairway (while leaving evidence of their recent passing by for you to dodge), with their owners constantly making entreaties to take a ride to the top.

ABOVE RIGHT Standing on top of an altar at the High Place, overlooking surrounding mountains.

RIGHT Looking down on some tombs from the High Place

LEFT Relaxing at the High Place, overlooking some tombs ABOVE RIGHT

RIGHT A Bedouin woman nimbly walks up a rugged path balancing a tray of small rocks that she is selling on her head. Now and then, she will sit down and play a flute.

I rather regret not taking a photo, when the opportunity arose enroute to the High Place, of a stall with a sign advertising "tea, coffee, silver". These were sold everywhere in Petra, but annoyingly I only noticed this sign once indicating the incongrousness of their wares.

This trip was part of the Jordan Connection tour with Imaginative Traveller