Day 08 - Petra: Lost City of the Nabateans

For our first morning in Jordan, we started out by watching the sunrise as we rode camels, just like T. E. Lawrence, aka Lawrence of Arabia would have done! After breakfast and a liesurely morning enjoying Sun City Camp, we loaded the bus and headed to Petra, of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO world heritage site. The name Petra is derived from the Greek word 'petros', which means rocks.

Petra is believed have been established in 312 BC, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. It was the capital city of Nabateans, who were ancient southern Arab people that arrived in Jordan around the 6th century BC. They were essentially the creators of one of the most extraordinary civilizations This was a trade center and the financial center of the ancient world, being situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea.

Petra is home to roughly 800 tombs, therefore known as the "Royal Tombs", with the most renowned being The Treasury. The Treasury was originally built as a mausoleum and crypt, and is estimated to be over 2,000 years old. It was discovered in 1812 by a Swiss explorer. If the scenery looks familiar to you is because it has been used in several films, the most popular one being Indiana Jones and the last Crusade.

It wouldn't have been possible for Petra to exist if it had not been for the water channel system that was constructed. As a result, there was apparently enough water to support the 30,000 citizens that are believed to have occupied Petra at its first century peak. What remains is mainly from the Nabatean period. The Nabateans were extremely skilled water engineers, traders, builders and carvers. There was even built a large swimming pool by the palace - in the middle of the desert!

We arrived in time for lunch at "My Mother's Recipe" and then spent the afternoon exploring Petra. We walked the "siq" (canyon), seeing the Treasury and hiking up to the Royal Tombs. We had the opportunity to ride donkeys and mules up out of the canyon instead of walking up a long, steep hill to the bus.

Our hotel was only a few minutes away, a very unique one called the Olde Village Hotel. This is the property of an old Turkish village which was purchased and renovated into beautiful hotel rooms nestled into a terraced hill. We had a beautiful dinner at sunsset and time enjoying the resort. What a great day!