If you have not been to Petra think about putting it on your bucket list. It is spectacular. If you rent a car, get to Petra by driving the Dead Sea Highway. It is a stunning drive along the Dead Sea, through the fertile Jordan valley, then along mountain roads with more twists and turns and more elevation gain in a short period of time than I have ever driven. The main highway from Amman, which we took for the return trip, is uninteresting, by comparison.
We stayed in the Bedouin Village located at the back gate of Petra. These were our neighbors, who you could hear braying regularly. What a sound.
The back road into Petra. In the distance you can see a square temple in the old city centre and owners with their donkeys on the road heading in for the days work.
This square temple dates to the first half of the 1st century AD
Heading toward the Monastery the largest monument in the Ancient City of Petra. 950 steps to the top.
Some go by donkey.
Ad Deir, or The Monastry dates to the early 2nd century AD.
Climbing higher.
Looking down.
The Great Temple Complex constructed 1st century BC covered 7000 sq meters.
The Royal tombs.
The theatre.
The church built end of the 5th century AD was destroyed by an earthquake. The quality of the floor mosaics attest to the church’s significance.
Heading back to the Bedouin Village.
The City of Petra on New Year’s Eve.
End of the day – our new neighbors.
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