Bartonia: Petra

Petra will speak for itself, even though we will post only a few of the many picture we took. The southern Jordanian landscape of arid rolling hiss suddenly gives way to a convoluted lump of sandstone mountain, cobwebbed with wadis and canyons eaten away over millenia by water and wind. Inside those hills, the Nabateans carved a vast city from the sandstone in 600BC. The best-known part of Petra is the Treasury (of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade fame), which is really a mausoleum.

The sandstone landscape that hides Petra. That's right - the ancient city of Petra sits within the mountains.


Looking over Petra (hidden in the sandstone hills) at dawn.


An early-morning herd on the streets of Wadi Musa, where Felix and I went for a walk before heading into Petra.

We embarked on our Petra adventure in the morning, hoping to avoid at least some of the heat. Before entering the city itself, there are tombs and small entrances carved into the hillsides. To reach the Treasury and the city of Petra beyond, there is a 2km walk through the Siq, a deep, narrow canyon carved into the stone by successive floods. The Nabateans harnessed the water with a dam and a channel that brought water all the way into the city.


Sandstone hills before the entrance.

Nabatean soldiers guarding the entrance of the Siq.

Walking through the Siq.

Carvings on the walls of the Siq.


Felix finds a friendly feline.


Patterns carved into the sandstone by wind and water.


Channels built to direct rainwater into the city of Petra.

Hanging out in the Siq.

This first glimpse of the Treasury is awe-inspiring...

Beyond the Treasury, Petra is vast. There is a Roman amphitheatre, monumental tombs, the 'Wall of Facades', and over 900 steps to a monastery and a stunning view over the surrounding mountains. Everywhere, the sandstone has been shaped, by humans and nature, into beautiful shapes and amazing marbled patterns.